SHREVEPORT, La. — A Louisiana father killed eight children, including seven of his own, in a shooting that spanned two homes in a Shreveport neighborhood on Sunday morning, in what authorities described as a domestic-related attack that has left the community in shock.
Police said two women, including the gunman’s wife and mother of several of the children, were also shot and critically wounded. The children who died were all inside the same house and ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins. He later died after a police pursuit that ended in an exchange of gunfire with responding officers, according to Shreveport Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon.
Authorities said the attack began before sunrise when Elkins shot a woman at one residence, then drove to a second home where the killings took place. Seven children were found dead inside the house, while another child was discovered on the roof after apparently attempting to escape. One child who jumped from the roof survived and was taken to a hospital.
Police said the victims were three boys and five girls, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s office.
Officials said they believe the incident was entirely domestic in nature, although they have not publicly detailed a specific motive. Bordelon noted that Elkins had a prior arrest in a 2019 firearms case but no known recent domestic violence reports.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said investigators were struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy. “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” he said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
Relatives said the couple was in the process of separating and was scheduled to appear in court the following day. Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the wounded women, said family tensions had escalated before the shooting.
“He murdered his children. He shot his wife,” Brown said.
Brown added that Elkins had children with two women, and that all the children were gathered at one of the homes at the time of the attack. She described the children as friendly and happy.
Neighbors reported hearing gunfire and seeing the suspect flee the scene. Liza Demming, who lives nearby, said her security camera captured footage of a man running from the house followed by the sound of gunshots. She later saw a child’s body covered on the roof of the residence.
Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., whose church is near the area, said one of the homes involved was rented out through a tenant arrangement, though he had no direct dealings with the family.
Authorities said the incident involved multiple crime scenes and remains under investigation. Officials described the case as one of the most severe acts of domestic violence the city has faced in recent years.
“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. “It’s a terrible morning.”
As the investigation continued, residents gathered near the scene, leaving flowers and holding a candlelight vigil for the victims. Community members expressed grief and disbelief over the loss of young lives.
“It just makes you take your children and hug them and hold them and tell them how much you love them,” one mourner said.
Authorities have not released further updates on the surviving victims or the ongoing investigation.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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