SHREVEPORT, La. — In what marks the nation’s most devastating mass shooting in more than two years, a 31-year-old Louisiana man murdered eight children, seven of whom were his own offspring, while also injuring his wife and another woman during a Sunday morning rampage.
The tragic events unfolded across two residential locations in a Shreveport neighborhood, with the perpetrator identified as Shamar Elkins. Following the attacks, Elkins perished during a high-speed chase that concluded when law enforcement officers opened fire, according to police officials.
Authorities have yet to establish a clear motive behind the killings, though relatives indicated that Elkins and his spouse were going through a separation. Community advocates are now demanding action on domestic violence issues as the tragedy continues to impact the city, particularly affecting schools where the victims were students.
The violence commenced in the early morning hours within a neighborhood located south of Shreveport’s downtown area.
Emergency dispatchers received their initial call at approximately 5:55 a.m. from someone reporting they were positioned on a rooftop where a shooting victim was located, according to Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith. Within five minutes, authorities were informed that Elkins had opened fire on everyone inside the residence on 79th Street.
Troy Brown, who is Elkins’ brother-in-law, revealed that his spouse and 12-year-old daughter managed to flee by climbing onto the home’s roof.
Law enforcement personnel responded rapidly, but at 6:07 a.m., dispatchers received another emergency call regarding a second assault on nearby Harrison Street. The caller reported being shot by Elkins before he escaped the scene, Smith explained. Police subsequently learned the shooter had taken a vehicle, sparking a chase that ultimately resulted in gunfire.
Approximately one hour after the first emergency call, Elkins was declared deceased. Smith noted that investigators have not determined whether the gunman was killed by police bullets or took his own life.
Legal documents reveal that Elkins received probation in 2019 following a guilty plea for unlawful weapon use. The police report from that incident stated Elkins discharged five shots at a vehicle, later telling officers that someone inside had threatened him with a firearm.
Louisiana state law prohibits individuals convicted of illegal weapon use from possessing firearms for a minimum of 10 years following completion of their sentence and probation period. Police spokesman Chris Bordelon stated that investigators were unaware of previous domestic violence incidents involving Elkins.
Officials have not disclosed how or where Elkins acquired the firearm used in Sunday’s attack.
Military records show Elkins enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard from 2013 to 2020, achieving the rank of private without any overseas deployments, a guard representative confirmed. His military roles included signal support system specialist and fire support specialist.
Brown disclosed that Elkins had voluntarily admitted himself to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in January for slightly more than a week. He noted that Elkins seemed “better when he came home” and appeared normal just one day prior to the shooting.
The child victims ranged from 3 to 11 years old. In addition to Elkins’ seven children, his nephew was also killed, the Caddo Parish coroner’s office confirmed.
Relatives portrayed the shooter’s wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, as a devoted mother who took pride in her children’s academic achievements and ensured they were well-dressed for family gatherings.
Francine Monro Brown, a cousin of Shaneiqua Elkins, shared that she frequently observed the children enjoying themselves in their yard on Sunday mornings while driving to church services. She described them as “happy” and “joyful.”
Crystal Brown, a relative of one of the shooting victims, explained that Elkins and his wife were in the process of separating and had been having disputes about their marriage before the tragedy occurred.
This Shreveport incident represents the most fatal shooting in the United States since January 2024, when eight individuals were killed in a Chicago-area community, based on data compiled by The Associated Press and USA Today working with Northeastern University.
