Shreveport Massacre: Father Kills Eight Children in Apparent Domestic Dispute, Dies in Police Shootout
SHREVEPORT, La. — In a horrific outbreak of violence that has stunned this northwestern Louisiana city, a father fatally shot seven of his own children and one of their cousins early Sunday morning, leaving a community grappling with unimaginable loss. The suspected gunman, identified by police as Shamar Elkins, was killed later that morning during a police chase that ended in a fierce exchange of gunfire, according to authorities.
The shootings unfolded around 5 a.m. in a residential neighborhood on the city's west side, where Elkins, 35, allegedly began with a domestic dispute at his home. According to the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, Elkins shot one woman in the face during an argument with his wife over their impending separation. The woman, who survived, was one of two mothers among the victims; both were parents to Elkins' children. A relative told The Associated Press that the couple had been quarreling ahead of a scheduled court appearance on Monday regarding their divorce.
Following the initial altercation, Elkins reportedly traveled a short distance to another residence in the area, where he carried out what police described as an "execution-style" attack on eight children who were trying to flee through a window. The victims, all between the ages of 3 and 11, included Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5, according to identifications provided by the coroner's office and confirmed by the mothers.
In total, Elkins is accused of shooting 10 people, including the two women. Three other individuals were wounded but survived, police said. The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, surpassing previous tragedies in its toll on young lives.
Neighbors in the tight-knit community were jolted awake by the sounds of chaos. Jacob and Tiffany Castleman, who live nearby, recounted to CBS affiliate KSLA the terrifying moments as sirens wailed and gunfire erupted outside their home. "And then when I heard the barrage, I knew that there was a full-blown shootout, something going," Tiffany Castleman said. "Mind you, we had no clue the later incidents that happened, but I had just full terror."
Her husband, Jacob, described peering out to see police officers with guns drawn, shouting commands at the suspect. "I was just in total shock ... it was just chaos," he told the station. "I mean, honestly like, it was just nothing like I've ever experienced." He added that the gunfire seemed "pretty close" to where they had been sleeping, and his first thought upon realizing what had happened was, "there's no way that that just happened behind our house."
Liza Demming, who resides two houses down from the second shooting location, captured part of the aftermath on her security camera. Speaking to The Associated Press, she said the footage showed the gunman running from the house, followed by the sounds of two shots and cars speeding away. "That's pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving," Demming recounted. Later, she spotted a heartbreaking sight: a child's body covered on the roof of the residence.
Elkins fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, prompting a high-speed pursuit by law enforcement that spanned several miles through Shreveport's streets. The chase ended when officers cornered him, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which Elkins was fatally wounded, according to police reports. No officers were injured in the confrontation.
Those who knew Elkins painted a mixed picture of the man behind the violence. Lashuan Berry, owner of the Valley of Hope Center for Kids daycare and an acquaintance of the family, described Elkins as eerily detached. "You could see in his eyes, nothing behind the eyes. Dead behind the eyes," Berry told KSLA. "No soul. NPC, non-player character. He didn't have one."
Yet, others in the neighborhood expressed shock at the turn of events, insisting there were no outward signs of trouble. Fred Montgomery, who lives across the street from the first shooting site, told CBS News he had seen Elkins and the children just the evening before. "The kids played in the yard every evening," Montgomery said. "Yesterday evening, he was sitting on the porch, I waved at him, he waved back, the children were in the yard ... and then this morning we woke up to all of this."
A friend of a relative of one of the victims, speaking anonymously to KSLA, echoed that sentiment. "Every time I seen him, he was nothing but smiles and everything like that," the person said. "I never dove into the backstory of it to figure out what was going on, but they never, ever showed any problems within the household." The source added, "We do not know what triggered him. We don't know what happened. But to do what he did to those kids should have never happened at all."
The tragedy has left the Shreveport community reeling, with vigils already forming at local churches and parks to honor the young victims. Officials from the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office worked through the day Sunday to notify families and process the scene, while counselors were made available for residents affected by the violence. "This is a dark day for our city," Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw said in a brief statement, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive beyond the domestic dispute, but sources close to the family indicated ongoing tensions from the separation. The case has drawn national attention, highlighting the devastating impact of familial violence and the challenges in preventing such escalations. As the investigation continues, questions linger about how Elkins obtained the firearm used in the attack and whether any prior interventions could have averted the horror.
In the broader context of gun violence in America, this incident stands out for its targeting of children in a domestic setting. Advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety issued statements condemning the shooting and calling for stricter domestic violence laws that include firearm restrictions. Meanwhile, local leaders in Shreveport, a city of about 200,000 with a history of community resilience amid economic struggles, vowed to support the surviving family members.
As Monday's court date approached—a day that was meant to address the Elkins' marital issues but now serves as a grim reminder of what was lost—neighbors gathered in quiet reflection. The sounds of children's laughter that once filled the yard have been replaced by an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional wail of sirens. For now, the focus remains on healing a fractured community and seeking justice for the eight young lives cut short.