On Easter Sunday, April 20, a domestic violence incident in Shreveport, Louisiana, resulted in the deaths of eight children and left two women in critical condition. Authorities identified Shamar Elkins, 31, a former Army and National Guard serviceman, as the primary suspect in the tragic event. Elkins was later shot and killed following a police pursuit.
"Some people don’t come back from their demons." — Shamar Elkins, Accused Suspect
The events unfolded after Elkins made a phone call to his mother, Mahelia Elkins, and stepfather, Marcus Jackson, on the morning of April 20. During the call, he informed them that his two-year marriage to Shaneiqua Pugh was ending, as Pugh had initiated divorce proceedings. The couple was scheduled to appear in divorce court the following day. The conversation reportedly escalated as Elkins expressed profound distress, telling his relatives he was experiencing suicidal thoughts and overwhelmed by what he described as "dark thoughts," according to reports by the New York Times.
Marcus Jackson, his stepfather, attempted to counsel Elkins, urging him to remain firm and suggesting that hardships could be overcome. However, Elkins remained unresponsive to these reassurances. Before ending the call, Elkins delivered a chilling statement to his stepfather, which Jackson later recounted to reporters: "Some people don’t come back from their demons." These words were reportedly among the last Elkins spoke before authorities allege he entered the Pugh family home.
Inside the residence, Elkins is accused of opening fire, resulting in the fatal shooting of eight children. The victims were identified 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. Seven of the eight children were Elkins' biological offspring, while the eighth was identified as their cousin, though investigators had not yet confirmed the specific relation at the time of initial reporting.
Shaneiqua Pugh, Elkins' estranged wife, was shot multiple times, sustaining injuries to her head and stomach. She was rushed to a local hospital in life-threatening condition. Additionally, Christina Snow, identified by family members as Elkins’ girlfriend, also suffered a severe head wound and was hospitalized. Both women remain in critical condition as of the latest updates.
Shamar Elkins was known to law enforcement prior to this incident. Court records indicate he had a history of legal troubles, including a conviction for driving while intoxicated in 2016. In 2019, he was convicted for the illegal use of weapons. This conviction stemmed from a March 2019 incident where Elkins reportedly drew a .9mm handgun from his waistband during an altercation with another driver and discharged five shots at their vehicle. One of the rounds from that incident was later discovered on the grounds of a nearby school where children were present and actively playing.
In the weeks leading up to the Easter Sunday shootings, Elkins' social media activity on Facebook reportedly showed signs of a deteriorating mental state and domestic turmoil. On April 9, he shared a post appealing for divine protection against negativity impacting his mind. A month earlier, in March, he had posted a probing question to other fathers online, asking whether they would choose a different woman to have children with — while still retaining their existing children — if given the opportunity.
Elkins had been scheduled for a court appearance on Monday morning, the day after the shootings, but he never arrived. Following the violent incident, police identified Shamar Elkins as the suspect. He was later killed after a police chase, as reported by ABC News Live. The investigation into the full scope of the tragedy and its underlying causes is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the sequence of events and the precise motivations that led to such a devastating loss of life. The community of Shreveport is grappling with the profound impact of the violence, mourning the loss of eight young lives and hoping for the recovery of the two wounded women.
