Eight children are dead and two others injured following a domestic mass shooting early Sunday morning in Shreveport. The suspect was later killed by law enforcement after a multi-parish pursuit, marking one of the deadliest incidents involving juvenile victims in the state’s recent history.
Shreveport Police Department (SPD) officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 6 a.m. local time on April 19. Investigators arrived to find a “very large” crime scene spanning two separate residences.
According to SPD spokesperson Christopher Bordelon, authorities discovered 10 gunshot victims at the scene. All victims were juveniles, with ages ranging from 1 to 14 years old. Eight of the children were pronounced dead, while two others were transported to local hospitals. Their current conditions have not been disclosed.
Preliminary findings suggest the violence was not a random act. “We do believe [the suspect] to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” Bordelon stated during a press briefing, noting that the incident appears “domestic” in nature.
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While the names of the victims have not been released, investigators believe the shooter was related to at least some of the deceased children.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the immediate area and allegedly carjacked a vehicle. This triggered a high-speed police chase that extended into neighboring Bossier Parish.
The pursuit ended when officers engaged the suspect. Law enforcement personnel discharged their weapons, fatally wounding the individual. No officers were reported injured during the confrontation.
The SPD, in coordination with state authorities, continues to process the dual crime scenes. Forensic teams are working to establish a definitive timeline of the morning’s events.
The identities of the victims and the suspect remain withheld pending notification of next of kin. Local advocacy groups and crisis counselors are expected to be deployed to assist the affected neighborhood as the community grapples with the scale of the tragedy.
