Louisiana man kills eight children and wounds two women in Shreveport

A 31-year-old man fatally shot eight children and wounded two women in Shreveport, Louisiana, before being killed by police after a high-speed chase.
Image Source: KREM 2 News

By Clara Wilson

A 31-year-old man fatally shot eight children and critically injured two women during a series of domestic incidents in Shreveport, Louisiana, early Sunday morning, April 19, 2026. 

Authorities identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins, a resident and U.S. Army veteran who previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard. According to the Shreveport Police Department, the violence occurred at two separate residences in the Cedar Grove neighborhood before the suspect fled into neighboring Bossier Parish. 

The incident resulted in the deaths of seven of the suspect’s own children and one young cousin, while a 13-year-old boy survived the attack by fleeing the scene. Elkins was later killed by law enforcement officers following a high-speed pursuit and an attempted carjacking across parish lines.

Sequence of Events in the Cedar Grove Neighborhood

The initial reports of violence reached the Shreveport Police Department during the early morning hours on Sunday. Investigators determined that the suspect, Shamar Elkins, first traveled to a residence located on Harrison Street in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. 

At this location, officials said Elkins opened fire on a woman believed to be the mother of several of his children. Following this initial shooting, the suspect moved to a second residence on West 79th Street, roughly half a mile away, where the situation escalated further.

According to police reports, Elkins entered the second home and opened fire on his wife and several children who were present inside. The victims included eight children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old. 

Authorities confirmed that seven of the deceased children were Elkins' biological offspring, while the eighth child was a cousin of the family. The victims included three boys and five girls. Medical personnel pronounced several of the children dead at the scene, while others were transported to local hospitals where they later succumbed to their injuries.

One 13-year-old boy managed to survive the incident by escaping the residence. Police reported that the teenager jumped from the roof of the home to evade the suspect, resulting in several broken bones. He was later located by emergency responders and taken to a medical facility for treatment. 

The two women wounded during the attacks, including the suspect’s wife, remain in critical condition as of Monday morning. Officials described the scene as concentrated within the two residences, and they have classified the motive as purely domestic in nature.

Law Enforcement Pursuit and Suspect Neutralization

Following the shootings on West 79th Street, Elkins fled the scene in a vehicle, prompting an immediate multi-agency alert. Officers from the Shreveport Police Department coordinated with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office as the suspect crossed the Red River into the neighboring parish. Law enforcement officials initiated a high-speed chase that spanned several miles along local highways and secondary roads. 

During the pursuit, authorities reported that Elkins displayed aggressive driving behavior and posed a significant risk to other motorists.

The pursuit concluded in Bossier Parish when the suspect’s vehicle became disabled or he attempted to abandon it. 

According to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Elkins then attempted to carjack another vehicle at gunpoint to continue his flight. Law enforcement officers engaged the suspect at the scene of the attempted carjacking. In the resulting confrontation, officers discharged their weapons, and Elkins was struck by gunfire. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were reported injured during the exchange of fire or the preceding high-speed pursuit.

The Louisiana State Police have taken the lead on the investigation into the officer-involved shooting in Bossier Parish, which is standard procedure for incidents involving the use of lethal force by local deputies or police. 

Forensic teams spent the remainder of Sunday documenting the various crime scenes, including the two residences in Cedar Grove and the location where the suspect was neutralized. Ballistics experts are currently working to confirm that the weapon used in the domestic shootings matches the firearm recovered from the suspect in Bossier Parish.

Suspect Background and Motive Analysis

As investigators look into the circumstances that led to the violence, details regarding Shamar Elkins' background have emerged. Elkins was an Army veteran with a history of service in the Louisiana Army National Guard. While his military record is being reviewed, family members informed investigators that he had recently been struggling with his mental health.

According to relatives, Elkins had expressed suicidal thoughts in the weeks leading up to the incident, although it is unclear if he had sought professional medical intervention for these issues.

The motive for the shooting appears to be rooted in an ongoing domestic dispute. According to family statements and court records, Elkins and his wife were in the process of a legal separation. The couple was reportedly scheduled for a court appearance regarding their domestic situation on Monday, April 20, the day after the shootings took place. Authorities believe the impending legal proceedings may have served as a catalyst for the suspect’s actions. Despite the severity of this incident, officials noted that there was no documented history of domestic violence reports involving the suspect and his wife prior to Sunday.

Elkins did have a prior criminal record, though it did not involve domestic incidents. Records show a 2019 conviction for the illegal use of weapons. At the time of that conviction, Elkins was sentenced to a period of probation. Investigators are currently looking into how he obtained the firearm used in Sunday’s shootings, given his prior conviction. The Shreveport Police Department has emphasized that while the mental health aspect is a factor in their report, the primary classification remains a domestic-related mass homicide.

Regional Impact and National Context

The shooting in Shreveport has been identified by data analysts as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024. The loss of eight children in a single event has had a profound impact on the local community and has drawn national attention to the intersection of domestic disputes and firearm violence. 

The Cedar Grove neighborhood, where the two shootings occurred, is a residential area that has seen various community-led efforts to reduce violence in recent years. Local leaders have expressed concerns that an incident of this magnitude could set back those efforts and leave a lasting mark on the neighborhood's residents.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux addressed the incident during a press briefing, emphasizing the need for community support for the surviving family members and the first responders who attended the scenes. The Mayor noted that the city would be making grief counseling resources available to the residents of West 79th Street and Harrison Street, as many neighbors were witnesses to the police response and the evacuation of the victims. The local school district is also preparing for the impact on students who may have known the victims, as several of the children were of elementary school age.

State officials, including the Governor of Louisiana, have issued statements offering assistance to the Shreveport and Bossier Parish authorities. The investigation is expected to continue for several weeks as the Louisiana State Police and the Shreveport Police Department finalize their respective reports. 

This incident adds to the ongoing national dialogue regarding the safety of children in domestic environments and the protocols for managing high-risk domestic court cases. As the two wounded women remain in critical condition, the community continues to monitor their status while preparing for the funerals of the eight young victims.