Shreveport Community Mourns After Father Kills Eight Children in Multiple Shootings

A series of shootings in Shreveport, Louisiana early Sunday morning left eight children dead and two women hospitalized, according to authorities. The violence began just before 6 a.m. on Harrison Street, when police say 31-year-old Shamar Elkins shot a woman before abducting his children and fleeing the scene.

Christina Snow, whose two sons and daughter were among the victims, remains hospitalized with a bullet lodged in her face. Family members describe her as a devoted mother who was critically wounded in the attack and is experiencing memory loss as she recovers from her injuries. Snow's cousin, Jamarckus Snow, shared that doctors opted not to remove the bullet due to surgical risks.

Authorities say that after the initial shooting, Elkins drove to another residence on West 79th Street, where relatives believe his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, lived. Seven children were found dead in that home, with another child's body located on the back roof. Police reported that most of the young victims, aged between 3 and 11, had been shot in the head—some while they slept. Pugh was also shot in the face and remains in critical condition. A teenager sustained non-life-threatening injuries after falling from the roof during the incident.

Elkins died following a carjacking as he attempted to evade law enforcement. Police have not confirmed whether his death resulted from suicide or police gunfire. Authorities say what led to the shooting is still under investigation.

Elkins was a former National Guardsman with a previous firearm conviction and had recently sought treatment at a Veteran Affairs medical center, according to family members. Federal prosecutors have arrested a man in connection to the firearm Elkins used during the attack.

Neighbors expressed shock at the violence, describing the block as a quiet area where families and children often gathered outside. Candlelight vigils have since been held as the community grieves the devastating loss of young lives. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.