Eight children killed in Louisiana mass shooting, suspect still at large

Shreveport Mass Shooting Claims Eight Lives, Leaves Family in Trauma

A 31-year-old man opened fire on Sunday morning in Shreveport, Louisiana, killing eight people, including seven of his children and a cousin. The victims were found at two separate residences in the Cedar Grove area.

According to authorities, the shooting began around 5am and continued until police arrived shortly after 6am. The suspect, identified as Shamar Elkins, initially shot his wife at one residence before heading to another location where he killed eight children and an adult cousin. The victims ranged in age from one to 14 years.

Elkins’ wife and another woman were critically injured in the attack. One child managed to escape by jumping from the roof and calling authorities. Elkins fled, carjacked a man at gunpoint, and led police on a chase into nearby Bossier Parish before being confronted by officers.

The investigation described the incident as a “violent domestic incident.” Authorities confirmed that seven of the eight victims were Elkins’ own children, with one cousin also among the dead. The two adult women, including his wife, are in critical condition.

Elkins had been experiencing emotional strain in the lead-up to the shooting, according to family members. His mother and stepfather reported that he spoke about the possibility of divorce and described feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Elkins’ brother-in-law stated that after their first argument about the split, Elkins became increasingly upset and “losing his mind.”

The attack has left a significant impact on the community, with the coroner’s office reporting more than double the number of homicides in Shreveport and Caddo Parish this year.

Source: Al Jazeera