Jonshel Alexander, who played a supporting role in 2012’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, was shot and killed in a weekend shooting in her native state of Louisiana, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Police have released a statement detailing the event where Alexander and a man were shot while in a vehicle, where Alexander was pronounced dead a the scene.
Jonshel Alexander starred in her only movie role at age 12
Alexander made her only acting appearance at 12 years old in the oscar-nominated 2012 film Beasts of the Southern Wild. The film told the story of a recovering community on the bayou in Lousiana and received numerous awards and nominations.
Director Benh Zeitlin described Alexander as “an absolute one-of-a-kind, unforgettable, force-of-nature human being,” casting her in the supporting role after auditioning over 4000 Lousiana natives.
Jonshel Alexander remembered by her mother Shelly
Shelly Alexander says of her daughter that “She brought life to everything,” and added“Jonshel was feisty, jazzy, spoiled. It was her way or no way. Jonshel was like, ‘It’s going to be me.’”
New Orleans police are investigating the shooting and have asked the public for any information that can help identify the person of interest.
Our thoughts are with Alexander’s loved ones and this time.