SHREVEPORT, La. — Authorities have identified the suspect in a devastating mass shooting that unfolded early Sunday morning in Shreveport, leaving eight children dead and several others injured in what investigators describe as a domestic violence incident spanning multiple locations. Shreveport Police confirmed the gunman as Shamar Elkins, 31, who investigators say was the father of seven of the eight children killed. The eighth victim was also related to Elkins. The shooting, described as a “domestic disturbance,” marks one of the deadliest cases of filicide in recent American history and has left the Shreveport community shattered beyond measure.

The Suspect: Shamar Elkins, 31, a Father Turned Killer

Authorities have identified the gunman as Shamar Elkins, a 31 year old man who was the father of seven of the eight children he killed. The eighth victim was also related to him. Elkins was not a stranger. He was not a random shooter. He was the father of these children. He was the man who was supposed to love them, protect them, and keep them safe from harm. Instead, he murdered them.

According to police spokesperson Cpl. Christopher Bordelon, the violence began before sunrise when Elkins shot a woman at one residence. That woman survived. She is one of the two adult women who were critically injured in the attack. Investigators believe that woman is the mother of some of the suspect’s children. She was shot in the head but survived. Her survival is nothing short of miraculous.

Authorities noted that Elkins had a prior firearms-related arrest in 2019 but said there was no documented history of domestic violence involving him. There were no red flags. No prior calls to police about domestic abuse. No restraining orders. No warnings that this man was capable of murdering his own children. The absence of a documented history makes this tragedy even more difficult to comprehend.

The Crime Scene: Multiple Locations, Unimaginable Horror

According to police spokesperson Cpl. Christopher Bordelon, the violence began before sunrise when Elkins shot a woman at one residence. He then traveled to a second home, where the majority of the killings occurred. The gunman did not stop at one location. He moved deliberately from one home to another, continuing his deadly rampage as if working through a list of targets.

At the second location, eight children between the ages of 3 and 11 were shot. Seven of the victims were found inside the home, while one child was discovered deceased on the roof, apparently after attempting to escape the violence. A child climbed onto a roof to get away from his father. He made it to the roof. He thought he was safe. But the bullets found him there. He died on the roof, alone, in the dark, trying to escape a father who should have been his protector.

The scale of the crime scene is unprecedented. “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” Bordelon said, emphasizing the scale and complexity of the investigation. Multiple homes. Eight dead children. Two critically injured women. A teenager wounded but expected to survive. A shooter on the run. A police chase. An officer-involved shooting. The investigation will take weeks, if not months, to fully process.

The Victims: Eight Young Lives Lost

The victims have been identified by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. Their names and ages are a roll call of tragedy:

• Jayla Elkins, 3 — A toddler. Just three years old. She was barely out of diapers. She was learning to talk, to sing, to play. She had her whole life ahead of her. Her father killed her.

• Shayla Elkins, 5 — A kindergartner. She was learning her letters, her numbers, how to make friends. She was excited about school, about birthdays, about the future. Her father killed her.

• Kayla Pugh, 6 — A first grader. She was learning to read, to write, to dream. She had favorite colors, favorite foods, favorite toys. Her father killed her.

• Layla Pugh, 7 — A second grader. She was making memories, building friendships, discovering who she was. Her father killed her.

• Markaydon Pugh, 10 — A fourth grader. He was a big brother, a son, a friend. He had dreams of what he wanted to be when he grew up. Her father killed him.

• Sariahh Snow, 11 — A fifth grader. She was on the verge of middle school, of new experiences, of growing up. Her father killed her.

• Khedarrion Snow, 6 — A first grader. He was full of energy, of curiosity, of life. Her father killed him.

• Braylon Snow, 5 — A kindergartner. He was just beginning his journey. He had not yet learned to tie his shoes, to ride a bike, to read a book. Her father killed him.

Three year old Jayla. Five year old Shayla. Six year old Kayla. Seven year old Layla. Ten year old Markaydon. Eleven year old Sariahh. Six year old Khedarrion. Five year old Braylon. Eight children. Eight names. Eight lives stolen by a father who was supposed to protect them.

In addition to the children killed, two adult women sustained critical injuries, and a teenager was also wounded but is expected to survive. One of the injured women is believed to be the mother of some of the suspect’s children. She was shot in the head. She survived. She will wake up to a world without her children. She will have to find the strength to go on.

The Escape Attempt: A Child on the Roof

One child was discovered deceased on the roof, apparently after attempting to escape the violence. This detail is among the most heartbreaking of this entire tragedy. A child, knowing that his father was shooting, ran. He climbed onto a roof. He thought he could hide. He thought he could get away. But the bullets followed him. He died on the roof, in the cold morning air, alone, terrified, betrayed by the man who gave him life.

The other children were found inside the home. They did not make it to the roof. They did not make it to a door. They died where they were, in the rooms where they slept, played, and lived. Their bodies were discovered by first responders who will never be the same.

The Chase: Elkins Flees, Carjacks a Vehicle, and Is Killed by Police

Following the shootings, Elkins fled the area, allegedly carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint, which led to a police pursuit into neighboring Bossier City. He forced an innocent driver out of their car, threatening them with a gun, before speeding away. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies joined the pursuit, coordinating their efforts to bring the killer to justice.

During the pursuit, officers discharged their weapons. Elkins was later confirmed deceased, though officials have not yet provided full details regarding the circumstances of his death. It is believed that Elkins was shot and killed by police during the chase. The three officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

The chase ended the threat. Elkins could not kill anyone else. He could not harm another child. He was stopped. But he had already taken eight young lives. The damage was done.

Official Response: “A Terrible Morning” for Shreveport

Local officials expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith described the incident as unimaginable, while Mayor Tom Arceneaux called it “a terrible morning” and possibly one of the worst tragedies the city has ever experienced.

“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” Mayor Arceneaux said. “It’s a terrible morning in Shreveport, and we all mourn with the victims.”

State and federal leaders also issued statements offering condolences and support to the victims’ families and the broader community. Governor Jeff Landry said, “Today, our hearts are broken for the families of the eight children who were murdered in Shreveport. This is a senseless, horrific act of violence that has no place in our state.”

The Louisiana State Police have joined the investigation at the request of local authorities. The FBI has also offered assistance. Multiple agencies are working together to piece together the timeline of events, to understand the motive, and to ensure that every detail is documented.

The Investigation: Searching for Answers

Officials are urging anyone with information, including photos or video related to the incident, to come forward and assist investigators. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to process multiple crime scenes and piece together the events leading up to the attack.

Key questions remain unanswered. What led a father to murder his own children? Was there a history of mental illness? Had Elkins shown signs of violent behavior? Did anyone see this coming? The absence of a documented history of domestic violence makes this tragedy even more difficult to understand.

The investigation will also examine how Elkins obtained the firearm used in the shooting. Was it legally purchased? Was it stolen? Did his prior firearms-related arrest in 2019 prevent him from owning a gun? These questions will be part of the broader conversation about gun violence that inevitably follows such tragedies.

The Community: Shattered and Grieving

The Shreveport community is in profound shock. A neighborhood that was once quiet and unremarkable is now known as the site of one of the worst mass killings of children in American history. Residents who have lived on this street for decades say they have never seen anything like this. They knew the family. They watched the children play in the yards. They waved to them as they walked to school.

Now those yards are crime scenes. Those schools will have empty desks. Those families will never be the same.

A makeshift memorial has begun to form near the police tape. Teddy bears, balloons, and candles have been placed on the ground by neighbors who want to show their support. A handwritten sign reads, “God bless the children.” Another reads, “Why?”

Faith leaders from across the city have announced a citywide prayer vigil. Churches of all denominations have opened their doors for those who need a place to grieve. Counselors have been made available at community centers for residents who are struggling to process the trauma.

Holding Onto Memories

As the investigation continues and the community mourns, the families of the eight children are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto their memories of their loved ones while also confronting the reality of their deaths. They must grieve their losses while also planning funerals. They must find a way to go on without them.

The children who died were not statistics. They were individuals. They had names, faces, personalities. They had favorite foods, favorite toys, favorite songs. They had friends who loved them, teachers who believed in them, futures that will never be realized.

Jayla, 3, who was just learning to talk. Shayla, 5, who was excited about kindergarten. Kayla, 6, who was learning to read. Layla, 7, who loved to play with her friends. Markaydon, 10, who was a big brother. Sariahh, 11, who was on the verge of middle school. Khedarrion, 6, who was full of energy. Braylon, 5, who was just beginning his journey.

All of them are gone. All of them were taken by a father who was supposed to protect them.

Conclusion: A City Forever Changed

The mass shooting in Shreveport that killed eight children, including seven who were the sons and daughters of the gunman, is a tragedy that will forever mark this city. Shamar Elkins, 31, murdered his own children before being shot dead by police during a chase. The investigation is ongoing. The questions remain.

But what is certain is that eight families are shattered. A community is in mourning. A nation is grieving. And the names of the victims — Jayla, Shayla, Kayla, Layla, Markaydon, Sariahh, Khedarrion, and Braylon — will never be forgotten.

As Shreveport mourns, the city stands together in grief, offering prayers and support to the families of the victims. Rest in peace to the eight children who died. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memories will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.