State Watch

Father killed 7 of his children and another child in Louisiana mass shooting: Police

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by Ashleigh Fields - 04/19/26 9:11 PM ET

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by Ashleigh Fields - 04/19/26 9:11 PM ET

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A suspect in the mass shooting in Shreveport, La., that occurred early Sunday was determined to be the father of 7 of the 8 children he shot to death, officials say.

The alleged gunman, Louisiana man Shamar Elkins, was identified by police after he was fatally wounded following his fleeing of the scene in a stolen car, according to police and reporting by The Associated Press.

“Officers were forced to discharge their department-issued firearms, neutralizing the suspect,” police told reporters.

The suspect’s children ranged in age from one to 14 years old.

Two other women who are believed to be the suspect’s wife and girlfriend were also shot, police said.

“We have a hurting community. We have hurting families. We have hurting police officers, coroner’s personnel, fire department, Sheriff and this affects the entire community. So, we all mourn with these families,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said at a Sunday press conference.

“I asked, it’s a Sunday morning, I ask all of you who are listening, might be able to pray at your services this morning, for not just this family, for all the victims, for the victims who are at the hospital, for the Cedar Grove Community, and for the community at large, as well as police officers, partners, fire department, Caddo parish, sheriff’s office,” he said.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said all of their resources were being devoted to investigating the crime.

“My heart is just taken back. I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur,” Smith told reporters.

“I want to let the community know that all of my resources are out here, processing every piece of evidence and everything, and at some time in the near future, we’ll get some more inclusive information about exactly what took place,” he continued.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also shared his condolences.

“Local officials are saying it is one of the worst tragedies they have ever seen. God be with the community through this terrible time,” Johnson, whose congressional district includes Shreveport, wrote in a statement on X.

The Associated Press reported the shooting is the deadliest in the country since January of 2024, according to an internal database shared with USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

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