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Eight Children Killed in Shreveport Shooting
A domestic shooting in Shreveport left eight children dead after Shamar Elkins carried out attacks across multiple homes before being killed by police.
ShrevePort police department photo from their social media page
A man carried out a deadly shooting across multiple homes in Shreveport early Sunday, killing eight children. Seven of them his own. In what authorities described as a domestic-related incident and the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024.
Police identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins, 31. Officials said the victims included three boys and five girls aged between 3 and 11. According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, seven of the children were siblings and one was their cousin.
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Earlier reports had placed the victims’ ages between 1 and 14. Authorities later named the victims 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.
A 13-year-old boy was injured while trying to escape by jumping off a roof. He suffered several broken bones but is expected to survive. Officials also said some children attempted to flee through the back door as the shooting unfolded.
Two women were also shot during the attacks. Elkins first shot his wife, the mother of his children, leaving her critically injured. He then went to another home, where he killed the eight children and shot another woman, identified as the mother of one of the victims, who remains in life-threatening condition.
Police said the violence began shortly after 6 a.m. in the Cedar Grove area, with victims discovered at two homes on West 79th Street and a third on Harrison Street.
After the shootings, Elkins fled, hijacked a vehicle and led officers on a pursuit into a neighboring parish before being shot dead by police. The Louisiana State Police is conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Records show Elkins had a prior firearms-related arrest in 2019, when he fired multiple shots at a vehicle following a confrontation near a school. He also served for seven years in the Louisiana Army National Guard until August 2020 and was not deployed.
Officials described the scene as extensive, with multiple fatalities involving children. Tom Arceneaux called the incident “horrific” and said it has deeply shaken the community, possibly marking the worst tragedy in the city’s history.
Data from the Gun Violence Archive shows at least 114 mass shootings have occurred in the United States this year, defined as incidents where four or more people are shot, excluding the perpetrator.
Shreveport, home to around 180,000 residents and located about 250 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, has seen more than 30% of its homicides linked to domestic incidents, according to local officials.
A nearby resident reported seeing the suspect run from one of the homes, with security footage capturing him heading toward a tire shop. Another neighbor later observed a child’s body on a rooftop.
Community leaders expressed grief and shock in the aftermath. City councilwoman Tabatha H. Taylor became emotional while urging the community to seek support and assistance for those affected.
Wayne Smith said he struggled to comprehend the scale of the tragedy, while U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the killings as “heartbreaking” and extended condolences.
Keith Burton, superintendent of Caddo Parish Public Schools, called for support for children, families, educators and first responders coping with the aftermath.
Mayor Arceneaux said the impact of the tragedy extends far beyond the immediate scene, leaving a lasting emotional toll on the entire community.
Editor’s Note:
The mass shooting in Shreveport highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence - related incidents in the United States, as communities grapple with grief following one of the deadliest attacks involving children in recent years.
