Shreveport, Louisiana – A community in Shreveport, Louisiana, is grappling with profound grief and shock after eight children were killed and two women critically injured in a domestic-related shooting that spanned multiple residences early Sunday morning. Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 32-year-old Shamar Elkins, who was the father of seven of the children who died. Elkins was later fatally shot by officers after a police pursuit.
The Caddo Parish Coroner's Office confirmed the identities of the eight child victims as five girls and three boys, ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old. Their mothers identified them as 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. Investigators described the killings as "execution-style," noting that one child was discovered on a roof, reportedly having attempted to flee.
Authorities detailed a horrific sequence of events that began around 5 a.m. at a residence on Harrison Street. Officials allege that Elkins initiated the violence by shooting one woman there before leaving the scene. He then reportedly traveled to a second home where the majority of the killings took place. In total, two adult women, including the mother of several of the children, sustained critical injuries and were transported to a hospital. Their current conditions have not been released as the investigation continues.
After the shootings, Elkins reportedly fled the area, escalating the situation by carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint. This triggered a police pursuit that extended into neighboring Bossier Parish. Officers eventually located the suspect, and he was killed during an encounter with law enforcement. NewsNation reported that no officers were injured during the incident.
Police have characterized the case as domestic in nature, involving family members connected across multiple households. Investigators indicated that Elkins had children with more than one woman involved in the incident, and the victims were distributed between the two residences. Officials are currently examining whether an ongoing separation between Elkins and the mother of several children played a role in the violence, though a definitive motive has not yet been confirmed.
The extensive attack prompted a large-scale law enforcement response, with investigators working across several locations to secure multiple crime scenes and construct a comprehensive timeline of events. The case encompasses at least two homes, the shootings themselves, and Elkins' subsequent flight and confrontation with police. Evidence collection and interviews are ongoing as authorities strive to establish a full sequence of events.
Local and state leaders expressed profound sorrow following the tragic killings. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the incident as a "devastating loss" for the city. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) conveyed his and his wife's heartbreak, extending condolences to the affected families and the first responders involved in the harrowing situation. Louisiana State Police are actively assisting in the investigation and are also conducting a review of the circumstances surrounding the suspect's death, which occurred during an officer-involved shooting following the pursuit.
Authorities noted that Elkins, an Army veteran, had a prior firearms-related arrest in 2019 and had previously pleaded guilty to illegal use of weapons. However, officials described his overall criminal history as limited. Investigators continue to process the multiple scenes and are awaiting forensic results to reconstruct the full timeline of events across each location involved in the tragic incident.
