What to know about a Louisiana father fatally shooting 8 children, including his own

In Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 20, 2026, Shamar Elkins, a 31-year-old father, fatally shot eight children, seven of whom were his own. The shootings occurred at two separate homes in a neighborhood south of downtown, beginning before sunrise. Elkins also shot and wounded his wife and another woman. Police responded to the initial reports around 5:55 a.m., and after a car theft and subsequent police pursuit, Elkins died about an hour later; it is unclear if his death was self-inflicted or caused by police gunfire. Authorities have not yet determined a motive, but family members indicated Elkins and his wife were separating. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in over two years.

A woman and a child jumped from a rooftop to escape a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday. The suspect, identified as the father of eight children who were killed in the shooting, was fatally shot by police following a gun battle. Eight children, including seven siblings and one cousin, were killed in the attack, with ages ranging from 3 to 11 years old. Two adult women, including the mother of the victims, were also injured by gunfire and are recovering in hospital. The suspect's identity has not been released, but authorities confirmed that he was the father of the children who died. The incident occurred at approximately 05:55 CDT on Sunday morning, with the caller reporting the gun attack from a rooftop before fleeing to safety.

A mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday morning resulted in the deaths of eight children, ranging in age from 18 months to 14 years, and injuries to others. The suspected shooter was killed by police after a carjacking. The violence occurred across at least four separate locations in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. While the motive is under investigation, police believe the incident appears domestic in nature. The Shreveport mayor described the event as a tragic situation, possibly the worst in recent memory. The Gun Violence Archive reports that prior to this incident, there had been at least six mass murders across the US in 2026.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, a shooting described as a domestic disturbance resulted in the deaths of eight children, aged one to 14. The incident occurred around 05:00 local time and involved a single gunman who shot ten people across multiple crime scenes, including homes on West 79th Street and Harrison Street. After fleeing in a stolen vehicle, the suspect was pursued and killed by police. Authorities are investigating the incident in coordination with state and federal agencies. The shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since January 2024. Local and state officials have expressed grief and offered support to the affected families and community.

A shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, has left eight children dead and two others injured in what police believe was a domestic violence incident. The victims ranged in age from one to fourteen, and some were related to the unidentified gunman. The incident occurred across three residences, prompting an extensive investigation. The suspected shooter was fatally shot by police after a car chase that ended in Bossier City. State police have been asked to investigate the officer-involved shooting, and local officials have expressed grief and shock over the tragedy.