Louisiana authorities have identified 34-year-old Shamar Elkins as the gunman responsible for the execution-style slaying of eight children and the critical wounding of two women during a domestic rampage early Sunday morning. Elkins was subsequently killed by law enforcement following a carjacking and a multi-parish pursuit.
The violence began shortly after 6:00 a.m. on April 19. According to Shreveport Police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon, the crime scene spanned two separate residences. Investigators believe Elkins first targeted his wife at a home on Harrison Street, shooting her in the face.
The suspect then proceeded to a second residence on West 79th Street, where he opened fire on a woman believed to be his girlfriend and eight children. Police report that most of the children were shot in the head while they slept.
One survivor, a 13-year-old boy, escaped the slaughter by jumping from the roof of the home. He is currently being treated for broken bones.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has released the names of the eight deceased minors:
- Jayla Elkins (3)
- Shayla Elkins (5)
- Kayla Pugh (6)
- Khedarrion Snow (6)
- Layla Pugh (7)
- Braylon Snow (5)
- Markaydon Pugh (10)
- Sariahh Snow (11)
Authorities confirmed that seven of the eight victims were Elkins’ biological children. The eighth child was identified as a family friend. Both adult women remain in serious condition at local hospitals.
Following the shootings, Elkins fled the scene and carjacked a vehicle. Shreveport officers engaged in a high-speed pursuit that crossed into neighboring Bossier Parish. The chase ended when officers were forced to discharge their service weapons, fatally striking Elkins.
“Officers were forced to discharge their department-issued firearms, neutralizing the suspect,” the department confirmed in a formal statement.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith described the event as unprecedented in its brutality. “I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur,” Smith told reporters during a Sunday press conference.
Neighbors near the 79th Street residence expressed shock, noting the family had moved into the neighborhood approximately six months ago. While the incident is being classified as a domestic violence mass shooting, a specific motive for the targeted killings remains under active investigation.
“It is a disgusting and evil scene,” Bordelon stated, reflecting the gravity of the largest mass casualty event in the city’s recent history.
