SHREVEPORT, La. — A quiet Sunday morning in Northwest Louisiana was shattered by what local officials are calling the most “horrific” act of domestic violence in the state’s recent history. Eight children, ranging in age from just 1 to 14 years old, were killed in a series of shootings across multiple homes in Shreveport, sparking a high-speed manhunt that ended in the death of the suspect.
The massacre, which has left ten people shot in total, is the deadliest mass killing in the United States in over two years. As the community gathers for vigils across Louisiana, a grim picture is emerging of a domestic dispute that spiraled into a cross-neighborhood slaughter.
Four Locations, One Gunman
The violence erupted shortly before 6:00 AM on Sunday. Shreveport police officers responded to a “domestic disturbance” call and discovered a sprawling crime scene that eventually extended across four separate locations in the Linwood Avenue and Harrison Street areas.
According to police spokesperson Cpl. Christopher Bordelon, the suspect—identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins—began the rampage at one residence before moving to a second location “where this heinous act was carried out.”
- The Victims: Eight children were killed. Investigators confirmed that seven of the children were believed to be “descendants of the gunman.”
- The Survivors: Two adults were also shot. One woman remains in stable condition, while a teenager is recovering from a broken leg.
- The Escape: One child’s body was discovered on the roof of a house, apparently killed while attempting to flee the gunman through a back exit.
A ‘Daring’ High-Speed Pursuit
Following the shootings, Elkins reportedly carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint to flee the scene. The subsequent pursuit involved the Shreveport Police Department and the Bossier City Police, spanning several miles across the Red River into neighboring Bossier City.
The chase ended when officers engaged the suspect near a local interchange. The Louisiana State Police, who are now leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, confirmed that Elkins was fatally shot by police during the confrontation. No officers were harmed during the exchange.
“My Heart is Taken Aback”
The scale of the tragedy has left veteran law enforcement officers and Louisiana leaders visibly shaken. During a Sunday news conference, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith struggled to find words for the devastation his officers encountered inside the homes.
“I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur.”
Mayor Tom Arceneaux echoed the sentiment, calling it “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport.” The city has already begun coordinating trauma counseling services for the classmates of the young victims and the first responders who arrived at the gruesome scenes.
The Investigation Continues
While the suspect’s identity and military background have been confirmed—Elkins served as an entry-level private in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013 to 2020—a specific motive for the targeted killings remains unclear. Public records indicate Elkins had a prior arrest in 2019 involving a firearms case, but local police were not aware of any recent domestic violence reports involving the family.
In Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents the Shreveport area, called the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” and stated his team is in close contact with Louisiana state investigators.
As forensic teams continue to process the four crime scenes, the city is preparing for a mass funeral for the eight young lives lost. “We’ve got to take our community back,” said Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., who owns one of the homes where the shootings occurred. “And we will.”