A man fatally shot eight children, seven of them his own, across three homes in Shreveport, Louisiana, early Sunday, according to police, in what authorities say is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024.
The victims were three boys and five girls ranging in age from 3 to 11, the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office told said. They included seven siblings and one cousin. Police had initially said the ages ranged from 1 to 14.
The coroner identified the children as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.
Authorities identified the gunman as Shamar Elkins, 31. Shreveport Police Cpl. Chris Bordelon described the shootings as domestic in nature.
Police responded to reports of gunfire just after 6 a.m. local time in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. Officers discovered victims in two homes along West 79th Street and a third on Harrison Street.
Investigators said the violence began when Elkins shot his wife, the mother of his children, leaving her with very serious injuries. He then went to a separate residence, where he shot the eight children and another woman. That woman, identified as the mother of the eighth child killed, suffered life threatening injuries.
A 13 year old boy survived by fleeing and jumping from a roof, sustaining several broken bones but expected to recover. Officials said some of the children attempted to escape through a back door as the shooting unfolded.
“This is a very large scene with multiple deceased children present,” Bordelon said.
The gunman later carjacked a vehicle and led police on a chase into a neighboring parish, where he was fatally shot by officers. The Louisiana State Police is investigating the officer involved shooting.
Community in shock after “horrific” scene
Officials described the aftermath as one of the most devastating incidents in the city’s history. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said the scene was horrific and acknowledged the deep impact on the community.
“It rattles the entire city. It affects us all,” he said, adding that the tragedy may be the worst in Shreveport’s history.
Police Chief Wayne Smith said he struggled to comprehend the scale of the violence. “My heart is just taken aback. I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur,” he said.
A neighbor’s security camera captured footage of the suspect fleeing the scene. One resident, who lives nearby, said she had seen the man with the children just days earlier. She later saw the covered body of a child on the roof, a detail that underscored the desperation of those trying to escape.
“How do we get through this?” she asked.
Gun violence and domestic cases
The shooting is part of a broader pattern of gun violence in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 114 mass shootings nationwide so far this year, defined as incidents in which four or more people are shot, excluding the gunman.
Shreveport, a city of about 180,000 residents located roughly 250 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, has faced persistent challenges with violent crime. Local officials say more than 30 percent of murders in the city are domestic in nature, highlighting the risks within family or household disputes.
The killings marked the eighth through 15th homicides this year in Shreveport and Caddo Parish, according to the coroner’s office.
National leaders also reacted to the tragedy. Mike Johnson, who represents the area in Congress, called the killings heartbreaking and said the victims and their families are in the nation’s thoughts and prayers.
Local education officials emphasized the need for support in the days ahead. Superintendent Keith Burton of Caddo Parish Public Schools said the community must come together to care for children, families, educators and first responders dealing with the trauma.
As investigations continue, the city faces the difficult process of mourning, supporting survivors, and trying to understand how such a devastating act could unfold within a family and across a neighborhood in a matter of hours.
This article was first published on CNN
