Shreveport, Louisiana — At least seven of the eight children killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport were the children of the gunman, identified by police as Shamar Elkins, authorities said.
Ten people were shot across multiple locations in the city early Monday morning, with eight children dying from their injuries. The victims ranged in age from 1 to 12 years old. Elkins was also killed during a police confrontation following the attacks.
According to police, the shooting began when Elkins shot a woman at a house just around the corner from the main scene. He then proceeded to another residence nearby, where the majority of the killings occurred.
Investigators arrived at the scene after one of the survivors escaped and called authorities shortly after 6:00 a.m. At the primary location, officers discovered 10 shooting victims. Eight of them— all children— were dead.
Police reported that some individuals managed to flee during the attack. One child escaped by going out a window and jumping off the roof, while a woman also jumped from the roof to safety. Tragically, officers found one of the deceased children on the roof, where the child had apparently been attempting to escape.
After the shooting at the second house, Elkins carjacked a vehicle at a nearby corner and led police on a chase into a neighboring city. During the pursuit, he produced a handgun, and officers shot and killed him.
Police noted they had one prior encounter with Elkins involving a weapons-related charge, but said there was nothing in his criminal history that would have indicated he was capable of such an act. Authorities described the incident as a domestic situation.
The investigation remains ongoing, with both local Shreveport police and Louisiana State Police involved.
This article is based on official police statements and contains only facts reported by authorities.
