Just a week and a half following the introduction of a new domestic violence unit in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, a tragic incident unfolded in Shreveport where a father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, and wounded two women. This devastating event was labeled as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years, as revealed in a press briefing on Monday.
Expressing deep sorrow, Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn stated, “None of us could have foreseen that our community would be struck by such heart-wrenching tragedies so soon after the unit’s establishment. Eight innocent children lost their lives due to domestic violence.”
During the news conference, local officials and law enforcement emphasized the importance of community support for the affected family members. One official highlighted, “Three mothers are now facing immense pain, with a father left to mourn his child.”
The victims, consisting of three boys and five girls aged between three and 11, were identified as: Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Braylon Snow, 5; Khedarrion Snow, 6; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; and Sariahh Snow, 11. Sheriff Whitehorn expressed that no words could adequately convey the depth of this tragic loss.
The perpetrator, Shamar Elkins, 31, used an “assault-style weapon” in two separate locations in Shreveport early Sunday morning, where he carried out the shootings. He targeted and killed the children and wounded two women, including his wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, who is the mother of four of the children. The other injured woman was reportedly the mother of three of his other children, and both remain in critical condition in the hospital.
Shamar Elkins died following a police pursuit, during which officers fired at him after he attempted to flee. It was unclear whether his death resulted from police gunfire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith.
While there were no previous records of domestic violence involving Shamar Elkins, he had been on probation since 2019 for an illegal weapons charge. Louisiana law prohibits individuals convicted of such crimes from owning firearms for a minimum of 10 years post-sentence and probation completion.
The tragic incident occurred amid the ongoing separation of Shaneiqua and Shamar Elkins, who were scheduled to appear in court on the day of the shooting. Reports indicated that the couple were in dispute over their separation, leading up to the tragic events.
Community members have paid tribute to the victims by setting up a makeshift memorial outside the residence where the children were killed, adorned with balloons and stuffed animals as tokens of remembrance.