Shreveport Tragedy as Louisiana Father Fatally Shoots Eight Children During Domestic Violence Rampage

A domestic dispute in Shreveport, Louisiana, turns fatal as Shamar Elkins kills eight children before dying in a police pursuit.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 7:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from ABC7 Chicago

A Morning of Unprecedented Violence in Shreveport

The city of Shreveport was plunged into mourning early Sunday morning following a brutal series of attacks that claimed the lives of eight children between the ages of 3 and 11. Police officials confirmed that the violence began before sunrise when the gunman, Shamar Elkins, opened fire on a woman at one residence before driving to a second location to continue the assault. According to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon, the incident is being treated as an entirely domestic matter. The scale of the loss has left the community and local law enforcement reeling, with Police Chief Wayne Smith expressing profound shock at the nature of the event.

The Pursuit and Death of the Suspect

Following the initial reports of gunfire, law enforcement engaged in a pursuit of the 31-year-old suspect. The chase ended when officers fired upon Elkins, leading to his death. Investigations into Elkins' background revealed that he had served as a private in the Louisiana Army National Guard for seven years, ending his service in 2020 without ever deploying. While he had a prior arrest record involving a 2019 firearms case, authorities noted there were no previously documented reports of domestic violence issues. The sudden escalation of lethal force has prompted an intensive review of the suspect’s history and the events leading up to the morning’s carnage.

Escalating Tension and the Failure of Separation

Witnesses and family members have pointed to a collapsing marriage as the likely catalyst for the tragedy. Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the wounded survivors, stated that Elkins and his wife were in the process of separating and were scheduled to appear in court the following day. The children killed in the attack included four shared with his wife and three with another woman who lived nearby. Brown described the victims as sweet and friendly children who were caught in the crossfire of a volatile domestic dispute. The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office emphasized that what began as a private disagreement resulted in irreversible and widespread harm to the family unit.