8 Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting; Suspect is Their Father
In a tragic incident stemming from domestic violence in Shreveport, Louisiana, a man fatally shot eight children, seven of whom were his own, before being killed by police.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 11:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 12:00 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 12:35 (35 min after Collected)
According to updated information from the police cited by ABC News, the murdered children were siblings and one cousin, comprising 3 boys and 5 girls aged between 3 and 11. The victims' identities have been confirmed by their mother.
Police indicated that the suspect's wife and another woman, believed to be his girlfriend, were also shot and critically injured in the incident.
NBC News reported that police later released the identity of the shooter as Shamar Elkins, confirming he is the sole suspect in the case. Police spokesman Christopher Bordelon stated that 7 of the 8 deceased children were the suspect's own.
The Shreveport Police Department in Louisiana received a domestic dispute call around 6 a.m. and rushed to the scene.
Police said the shooter first shot a woman on a nearby street, then went to the residence and killed all the children.
Bordelon stated that the bodies of 7 children were found inside the residence, while the 8th was found dead outside the same home, "appearing to have been killed while trying to escape from the rear roof."
He mentioned that investigators are still looking into the suspect's motive, adding, "We know this entire incident is a case of domestic violence. His wife, who is also the mother of the 7 children, was tragically involved."
Bordelon noted that the suspect used a small-caliber handgun, but after police fatally shot him, they found he possessed a larger, short-barreled weapon similar to a submachine gun. Preliminary findings suggest many of the children were killed in their sleep, mostly with gunshot wounds to the head.
Shreveport is the third-largest city in Louisiana. City Councilman Grayson Boucher stated that over 30% of crimes and 30% of homicides in the area are related to domestic violence. (Translation: Chen Yiwei) 1150420
Police indicated that the suspect's wife and another woman, believed to be his girlfriend, were also shot and critically injured in the incident.
NBC News reported that police later released the identity of the shooter as Shamar Elkins, confirming he is the sole suspect in the case. Police spokesman Christopher Bordelon stated that 7 of the 8 deceased children were the suspect's own.
The Shreveport Police Department in Louisiana received a domestic dispute call around 6 a.m. and rushed to the scene.
Police said the shooter first shot a woman on a nearby street, then went to the residence and killed all the children.
Bordelon stated that the bodies of 7 children were found inside the residence, while the 8th was found dead outside the same home, "appearing to have been killed while trying to escape from the rear roof."
He mentioned that investigators are still looking into the suspect's motive, adding, "We know this entire incident is a case of domestic violence. His wife, who is also the mother of the 7 children, was tragically involved."
Bordelon noted that the suspect used a small-caliber handgun, but after police fatally shot him, they found he possessed a larger, short-barreled weapon similar to a submachine gun. Preliminary findings suggest many of the children were killed in their sleep, mostly with gunshot wounds to the head.
Shreveport is the third-largest city in Louisiana. City Councilman Grayson Boucher stated that over 30% of crimes and 30% of homicides in the area are related to domestic violence. (Translation: Chen Yiwei) 1150420