Sabitlenmiş Tweet
On April 19, 2026, a mass shooting occurred in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, described by police as a domestic violence incident. The suspect, Shamar Elkins, 31, killed eight children (seven of whom were his own biological children) and injured two women before fleeing. He was fatally shot by police during a pursuit.
Timeline of Events
•The shootings began around 5-6 a.m. local time.
•Elkins first shot a woman (believed to be his wife or the mother of some of the children) at one residence on Harrison Street.
•He then went to a second home about a block away (in the 300 block of West 79th Street), where he shot the children and injured another woman.
•The attack spanned multiple homes and involved at least 11 people shot in total.
•After the shootings, Elkins carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint near Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street.
•Police pursued him into Bossier Parish (Bossier City area), where officers shot and killed him.
Victims
Eight children died, with ages reported variously as ranging from 1 to 14 (most sources specify 3 to 11). The deceased children were identified in some reports as:
•Jayla Elkins, 3
•Shayla Elkins, 5
•Kayla Pugh, 6
•Layla Pugh, 7
•Markaydon Pugh, 10
•Sariahh Snow, 11
•Khedarrion Snow, 6
•Braylon Snow, 5
Seven were Elkins’ biological children; the eighth was another child (possibly a relative). Two adult women were injured by gunfire (one critically, including the mother of some of the children); they were hospitalized. One additional child reportedly escaped by jumping from a roof and sustained injuries but survived. All fatalities were juveniles.
Suspect Background
Shamar Elkins was a lifelong Shreveport resident and a 31-year-old Army National Guard veteran (served about seven years until 2020; no deployments reported). He had a prior 2019 weapons conviction: he pled guilty after firing shots near Caddo Magnet High School (children were present outside at the time) and served probation. No recent domestic violence reports were noted by police, but family members described ongoing mental health struggles, including recent expressions of suicidal thoughts and “dark thoughts.” He and his wife were reportedly separating, with a court date scheduled for the day after the shooting regarding custody issues. Some reports described the event as a “family annihilation” triggered by domestic disputes.
Police described the crime scene as extensive. The incident is under investigation, with the motive tied to domestic violence. It has been called the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.
This is a rapidly developing story based on reports from Shreveport police, local media (e.g., Shreveport Times, KSLA), and national outlets. Details like exact victim ages, relationships, and full motive may be refined as more information emerges from the investigation.
English
