Shamar Elkins, identified by Shreveport police as the suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting, killed eight children and injured three others before being shot dead by officers during a pursuit, authorities said.
The shooting began just after 6 a.m. ET in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood, where Elkins first shot a woman on the street before entering a nearby residence and opening fire, according to Shreveport Police Department Corporal Christopher Bordelon. All eight children who were killed — ranging in age from 1 to approximately 14 years vintage — were found inside that residence, police said.
One of the victims fled to an adjacent home after being shot, where additional gunfire occurred, investigators said. Elkins then carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint and led police on a chase before officers opened fire, killing him, the department confirmed.
Louisiana State Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding Elkins’ death, as it involved an officer-involved shooting, a spokesperson said. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux confirmed that two adult women and a teenager were injured in the attack, with the women in critical condition and the teen’s injuries not life-threatening.
Elkins was the father of seven of the eight children killed, Bordelon told WWLTV, though police have not released the names of any victims or the shooter’s relationship to the eighth child. Authorities described the incident as domestic in nature, stating they believe at least some of those shot were descendants of the shooter.
Shreveport Councilman Grayson Boucher noted at a Sunday afternoon news conference that over 30% of the city’s crimes and murders are typically domestic in relation, adding that this single act had more than doubled the city’s homicide count. “We’ve more than doubled our homicide in the city of Shreveport because of one act of domestic violence,” Boucher said.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said investigators are reviewing every piece of evidence from each scene to understand how the shooting unfolded, calling the event unimaginable. “This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” Mayor Arceneaux said, adding that the entire community mourns the families affected.
What is known about the suspect’s motive?
Investigators say the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute, though the exact motive remains under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office and Louisiana State Police.
Why were the victims not identified by name?
Shreveport police have not released the names of any victims or the shooter, citing standard procedure in active investigations and to protect the privacy of families during the notification process.