Eight Children Killed in Shreveport Domestic Shooting; Suspect Dead After Police Pursuit

In the early hours of Sunday, April 19, 2026, a tragic shooting unfolded in Shreveport, Louisiana, resulting in the deaths of eight children and critical injuries to two women. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, was later killed by police following a pursuit.

Authorities reported that Elkins began his attack around 5:00 a.m. at a residence on Harrison Street, where he shot and critically injured a woman. He then proceeded to a home on West 79th Street, where he fatally shot eight children, aged between 3 and 11 years old. Seven of the victims were his own children, and the eighth was a cousin. Another woman, identified as Elkins' wife, was also critically wounded in the attack. A ninth child managed to escape by jumping from the roof, sustaining broken bones but no gunshot wounds.

Following the shootings, Elkins fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle, and led police on a chase into Bossier City. The pursuit ended when officers confronted and fatally shot Elkins. He was armed with a rifle-style pistol at the time.

Investigations revealed that Elkins and his wife were in the process of separating and had a court date scheduled for the following day. Family members indicated that the couple had been arguing about the separation prior to the shooting.

Elkins had served in the Louisiana National Guard from 2013 to 2020 as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist, holding the rank of private with no deployments. His criminal history included a 2019 conviction for illegal use of weapons, for which he was placed on probation.

The Shreveport community has been deeply affected by this incident, with officials and residents expressing shock and grief over the loss. Mayor Tom Arceneaux described it as "a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had."

This event marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024.