SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – Three Louisiana mothers spent Mother’s Day weekend mourning the deaths of eight children killed during a mass shooting in Shreveport last month, a tragedy that prompted hundreds of mourners to gather at a funeral service where the children were remembered in white caskets. The April 19 shooting, which authorities described as domestic in nature, saw seven of the children allegedly shot by their own father, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, inside the family home. An eighth child, a niece or nephew of the suspect, was also killed.
"This is not a Shreveport mourning. This is a nation mourning." — Rep. Cleo Fields, (D-LA)
The funeral service, held on a Saturday, brought together grieving families and community members, filling a church sanctuary where eight white caskets were lined across the front. The children were identified as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Mar’Kaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5. The attack also seriously wounded two of the children’s mothers, according to reports detailing the events.
Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA), addressing the somber gathering, called the tragedy the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in over two years. “This is not a Shreveport mourning,” Fields stated, emphasizing the broader impact of the loss. “This is a nation mourning.”
The sanctuary resonated with gospel music as family members approached the open caskets, which were adorned with flowers, ribbons, crowns, and tiaras, each a poignant symbol of the young lives lost. Funeral pamphlets offered tender tributes, describing the children’s unique personalities and favorite activities, remembering them as loving siblings, energetic students, and children devoted to family and friends. The deep emotional toll on the community extended to local schools, with Pastor Al George offering prayers for the teachers, principals, and classmates of the victims. “They’re going to school and see empty desks,” Pastor George remarked, highlighting the profound absence the killings would create in educational institutions and among students.
Following the church service, community members converged at a makeshift memorial established outside the residence where the shooting occurred. Flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, and handwritten messages were left as expressions of grief and remembrance for the children. Investigators noted that some of the children attempted to escape the home during the attack, and visible bullet holes remained in portions of the residence, serving as a stark reminder of the violence that unfolded.
The three mothers, dressed in white, sat together at the funeral service, a shared picture of profound sorrow. Relatives followed horse-drawn carriages that carried the children’s caskets to the cemetery for burial. At the graveside service, eight white doves were released into the sky, symbolizing peace and remembrance, as mourners laid roses across the caskets during final prayers. The collective outpouring of grief and support underscores the deep impact this tragedy has had on Shreveport and beyond, prompting reflection on domestic violence and community safety.
