Shreveport Man Charged in Connection with Firearm Used in Mass Shooting
Charles Ford, 56, faces federal charges for allegedly providing the firearm used by Shamar Elkins in a mass shooting that killed eight children in Shreveport.
Federal authorities have arrested Charles Ford, a 56-year-old resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, in connection with the firearm used in a mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight children. Ford has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements to federal agents.
The charges stem from the investigation into the April 19 incident, where 31-year-old Shamar Elkins used a rifle to kill seven of his children and one of their cousins, aged between 3 and 11 years old. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana, Ford initially denied possessing the firearm when approached by agents. However, he later admitted to having the weapon and stated he believed Elkins had taken it from his truck weeks before the shooting.
Ford faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearm possession charge and up to five years for the false statement charge. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to understand the circumstances leading to this tragic event.