Louisiana authorities have identified the eight children executed in a Sunday morning mass shooting, an event investigators are classifying as a catastrophic domestic violence incident. The suspect, identified as Shamar Elkins, is dead following a multi-parish pursuit and shootout with law enforcement.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office released the names of the victims on Monday, revealing a staggering loss of life among primary-school-aged children. The deceased include:
- Jayla Elkins, 3
- Shayla Elkins, 5
- Braylon Snow, 5
- Kayla Pugh, 6
- Khedarrion Snow, 6
- Layla Pugh, 7
- Markaydon Pugh, 10
- Sariahh Snow, 11
According to the Shreveport Police Department, Elkins was the biological father of seven of the victims. The eighth child was identified as a cousin.
The massacre began shortly before 6:00 a.m. on April 19. Investigative reports indicate Elkins first shot an adult woman at one location before traveling to the residence where the children were located.
Shreveport police spokespeople confirmed the brutality of the scene, stating that several children were shot in the head while they slept.
Three individuals survived the rampage: Elkins’ wife, a woman believed to be his girlfriend, and a male teenager. The teen reportedly escaped the carnage by jumping from the roof of the residence, sustaining multiple fractures. All three survivors are currently in stable condition and expected to recover.
Following the killings, Elkins allegedly carjacked a civilian at gunpoint to facilitate his escape. Law enforcement intercepted the stolen vehicle, initiating a high-speed chase that crossed into neighboring Bossier Parish.
The pursuit ended approximately 30 miles from the initial crime scene when officers engaged Elkins. Police fatally shot the suspect during the confrontation.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith, a veteran of nearly 50 years in law enforcement, characterized the incident as the most horrific of his career.
“In nearly five decades of service, I have never encountered anything of this magnitude,” Smith stated.
Detectives are currently working to establish a definitive motive, though the preliminary investigation points toward a domestic dispute that escalated into mass murder. The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office is coordinating with Shreveport and Bossier Parish investigators to finalize the timeline of the “heinous” sequence of events.
