Shamar Elkins: Father Kills Eight Children in Shreveport Mass Shooting Before Police Fatally Shoot Suspect
Authorities in Shreveport, Louisiana, are investigating a mass shooting that left eight children dead and several others injured in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, 2026.
According to police reports, the chilling incident was domestic-related and it happened across multiple locations.
The suspected gunman has been identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, and authorities say he fatally shot seven of his own children along with another child believed to be a relative, before wounding two adult women.
The violence unfolded shortly after 6 a.m. on April 19 when officers responded to reports of gunfire in the Cedar Grove area of the city, as per CBS News.
According to investigators, Elkins first shot his wife at a residence on Harrison Street, leaving her with very serious injuries. He then moved to a second location on West 79th Street, where he opened fire on the children and another woman, who authorities believe was the mother of the eighth child killed.
Both women were immediately hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and in total, ten people were struck by gunfire during the incident.
In addition to the two injured women, a 13-year-old boy was hurt while escaping the scene. Police said the teenager sustained broken bones after jumping from the roof but is expected to recover.
The victims were later identified by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office 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.
After the deadly shooting, the suspect fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint and led officers on a pursuit into neighboring Bossier Parish. The chase ultimately ended when officers discharged their weapons, and shot Elkins dead at the scene.
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Louisiana State Police have confirmed the suspect was acting alone, and they have also launched a separate investigation into the officer-involved shooting that resulted in his death.
Even though a full motive has not yet been established, law enforcement officials have indicated that the incident appears to be domestic in nature.
However, evidence is being collected from multiple scenes as authorities work to reconstruct the sequence of events.
According to CNN, official records show that Elkins previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013 to 2020 as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist.
However, he was not deployed during his service and left with the rank of private. Court documents also show that he has prior criminal convictions, including a 2019 arrest involving the illegal use of a weapon and an earlier charge related to driving while intoxicated.
According to his family members told
Elkins had recently been under stress related to marital issues. He had reportedly informed relatives that his wife wanted a divorce and expressed distress in the days leading up to the shooting. Authorities also confirmed that the couple had been in the process of separating and had ongoing disputes.
Officials from various levels of government law enforcement agencies responded to the incident, and the investigation continues as they try to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The attack has been described by city officials as one of the most severe incidents of violence in Shreveport’s history, and the eight child fatalities have significantly increased the city’s homicide count for the year, as per CNN.
The officials also noted that a substantial portion of violent crimes in the area are linked to domestic situations.
A vigil was held Sunday evening in Shreveport, where community members gathered to honor the victims. Authorities have not released further details regarding the timeline or any additional contributing factors as the investigation remains ongoing.
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