Louisiana Father Kills Eight Children in Deadliest U.S. Mass Shooting in Over Two Years

Shreveport, Louisiana — A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday morning when a father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, in a Shreveport neighborhood. This act of violence, which spanned two residences, has left the community grappling with the aftermath of one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history.

According to the Shreveport Police Department, two women were also critically injured in the attack, including the gunman’s wife, who is the mother of the deceased children. The children, all killed in a single house, ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old.

The shooter, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, was killed following a police pursuit that ended with officers firing upon him. While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, police spokesperson Chris Bordelon stated that detectives believe the incident was “entirely a domestic incident.”

“This is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in over two years,” Bordelon confirmed.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith expressed his shock, stating, “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.” He noted that police had previous encounters with Elkins, who had been arrested in a firearms case in 2019, but there were no known domestic violence reports.

Attacks Commenced Before Dawn

The violence began before sunrise in a neighborhood located south of downtown Shreveport. Initial reports indicate that the suspect shot a woman at one residence before traveling to another location, where the majority of the shootings occurred.

Seven children were found dead inside the second house, while one child was discovered deceased on the roof, likely attempting to escape. Another child, who jumped from the roof, is expected to survive after being transported to a hospital.

State Representative Tammy Phelps remarked on the harrowing scene, noting that some children attempted to flee through the back door. “I can’t even imagine what the police officers and first responders actually dealt with when they got here today,” she said.

The Caddo Parish coroner’s office reported that the victims included three boys and five girls.

Domestic Dispute Preceded the Tragedy

Elkins and his wife were reportedly in the process of separating and were scheduled to appear in court the following day. Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the injured women, indicated that the couple had been arguing about their separation prior to the shooting. “He murdered his children,” Brown stated. “He shot his wife.”

Elkins had four children with his wife and three children with another woman who also lived nearby. All the children were present at the same residence during the incident.

Brown described the children as “happy kids, very friendly, very sweet,” emphasizing the community’s loss.

Eyewitness Accounts

Liza Demming, a neighbor, reported that her security camera captured footage of the suspect fleeing the scene, along with the sound of gunfire. “That’s pretty much all I saw — him running out of the house and the cars leaving,” she recounted. Later, she discovered a child’s covered body on the roof of the home.

Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr. of St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, who owns one of the properties involved, stated that he had rented the house to the family but had no personal interactions with them. The parish district attorney’s office commented, “What began as a domestic dispute has ended in irreversible harm.”

Community in Mourning

This incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024, when eight individuals were killed in a Chicago suburb, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

At a press conference held outside the residence, officials appeared visibly shaken and requested patience and prayers from the community as they navigated multiple crime scenes. Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the situation as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” highlighting the profound impact on the city of approximately 180,000 residents.

In the hours following the shooting, mourners gathered outside the single-story house on 79th Street, laying flowers at the scene. One door bore visible signs of blood. Later that evening, community members participated in a prayer vigil, lighting candles in memory of the victims. Kimberlin Jackson, a local resident, reflected on the tragedy, stating, “It just makes you take your children and hug them and hold them and tell them how much you love them.”

For more details, visit the original reporting source: www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-04-20 08:53:00 • By the Editorial Desk