Gunman kills seven of his own children in Louisiana mass shooting
Gunman kills seven of his own children in Louisiana mass shooting
Connor StringerMon, April 20, 2026 at 1:25 AM UTC
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Residents were shocked by what police called ‘an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen’ - AP
The suspected gunman who killed eight children – seven of them his own – during a mass shooting in Louisiana has been identified as Shamar Elkins.
At least 10 people were shot, including an 18-month-old child, when Elkins, 31, opened fire during a “domestic disturbance” at two homes in the early hours of Sunday.
Elkins was shot dead by police after trying to flee the scene in the city of Shreveport in a stolen car.
According to the Shreveport Police Department, the youngest victim was 18 months old and the eldest was 12.
Seven of the eight children were the shooter’s “own” and police were actively investigating the motive, said corporal Chris Bordelon.
Wayne Smith, Shreveport’s chief of police, said: “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen.”
The scene in Shreveport, Louisiana after the shooting on Sunday
Two women survived the shooting, with one left in a critical condition after being shot in the head. One of the women was the mother of some of the slain children.
In total, nine children were at the second residence visited by the gunman. One survived and was in hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
A boy, who was in one of the homes when the gunman opened fire, was seen jumping from the roof to escape.
Mr Smith added: “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
After the shooting, Elkins stole a car and led officers on a high-speed chase, travelling a quarter-mile away to Harrison Street, between Wallace Avenue and Bernstein Avenue, police said.
He then drove to the third location, on Brompton Lane in Bossier Parish, where police shot and killed him.
“At the end of that pursuit, the suspect exited the vehicle with a firearm, and ultimately our officers were forced to neutralise the suspect,” Mr Bordelon told reporters.
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Officials are still gathering details about the crime scene, which extends across three locations - Jill Pickett/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP
Elkins was a resident in Shreveport. He served in Louisiana’s National Guard from Aug 2013 to Aug 2020 and left as a private, an entry-level rank, the army said.
He had been known to police and was arrested in 2019 in a firearms case. Officials were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.
Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court on Monday, according to Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the wounded women. Ms Brown said the couple had been arguing about the separation before the shooting.
Elkins shared four children with his wife and three children with another woman who lived close by and who was also shot, according to Ms Brown. All the children were together at one house, she said.
Two weeks before the attack, a Facebook page believed to belong to Elkins, shared a picture of him posing with seven children as he described taking them to church for an Easter service.
Wayne Smith, Shreveport chief of police, addresses the media at the scene
Ms Brown described all the children as “happy kids, very friendly, very sweet”.
Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city of about 180,000 people in north-western Louisiana, said: “This is a tragic situation – maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.
“We have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners’ personnel. This affects the entire community, so we all mourn with these families.”
At a news conference, officials appeared shocked as they requested patience and prayers from the community. Police said no officers were harmed in the shooting.
Speaker: ‘Children were senselessly killed’
Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, said: “Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning – eight children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured.”
He added: “We’re holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response.”
Before the incident in Shreveport, the Gun Violence Archive listed at least 119 mass shootings in the US this year, resulting in 117 deaths, including 79 children.
In January, a 24-year-old gunman went on a shooting spree in Mississippi. Six people were killed, including his father, brother, uncle and seven-year-old cousin.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
