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2026 Shreveport shooting

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On April 19, 2026, a mass shooting occurred at two homes in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. Eight children between the ages of 3 and 11 were killed; seven of them were the gunman's children and one was his nephew. His wife and ex-wife were injured by gunfire. The perpetrator, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a confrontation with the police following a carjacking and chase into Bossier City, Louisiana.

2026 Shreveport shooting
Map
Location32°25′58″N 93°45′41″W / 32.4328°N 93.7615°W / 32.4328; -93.7615
Cedar Grove, Shreveport, Louisiana, US
DateApril 19, 2026 (2026-04-19)
c. 5:55 a.m. – 7:03 a.m. (CDT; UTC−05:00)
Attack type
Weapons
Deaths9 (including the perpetrator)
Injured4 (2 from gunfire)
PerpetratorShamar Elkins
MotiveDomestic dispute

Background

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According to the nonprofit organization Gun Violence Archive, there were six incidents of mass murder in the United States in 2026 before the Shreveport shooting.[a][3] This incident is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024,[4] and the deadliest mass shooting on a single day in Louisiana history.

Shreveport has about 180,000 residents with more than 30% of the murders in the city labeled as domestic in nature, according to Shreveport councilman Grayson Boucher.[5] Boucher said there was "a true epidemic of domestic violence" across Shreveport.[6] In March 2026, the Shreveport City Council voted to withdraw from a partnership with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office to operate a domestic violence resource center at a new police substation.[7][8] Shreveport's mayor said his office was working to support a comprehensive domestic violence center.[9]

Elkins and Shaneiqua Pugh married in 2024.[10] Elkins had previously been married to Christina Snow.[11]

Shooting

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Police response timeline[12][13]
April 19, 2026, times are CDT
Time Event
5:55 a.m. First 911 call is received.
6:01 a.m. Police arrive at Harrison Street.
6:07 a.m. Second 911 call is received.
6:08 a.m. Suspect is identified as Shamar Elkins.
6:15 a.m. Police receive information that Elkins stole a car while fleeing.
6:17 a.m. Police traffic units spot the stolen car.
6:29 a.m. Police confront Elkins, exchange gunfire.
6:43 a.m. Police locate victims at West 79th Street home.
7:03 a.m. Elkins is pronounced dead in Bossier City.
Red circle: 500 Harrison Street, where the shooting began
Black circle: 300 West 79th Street, where the murders occurred; Elkins allegedly escaped on Linwood Ave

The attack began at a home on Harrison Street at around 5:55 a.m.,[14] where Elkins' ex-wife Christina Snow was shot nine times[15] and critically injured; Snow said the gunman had taken her three children and fled.[16][17][18] The gunman then drove to the 300 block of West 79th Street, where eight children were killed. It is believed that when the gunman entered the home, all the children in the house were asleep.[19]

At the West 79th Street house, Elkins' wife Shaneiqua Pugh was shot, but was not killed.[20] Keosha Pugh, the sister of Shaneiqua, was also living in the house with her 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son who was one of 8 of the children that were killed; both mom and daughter were injured while escaping by jumping from the roof.[20] Shortly after the shooting a family member received a phone call from Keosha, who said; "He done shot the kids, he killed the kids".[21]

A small-caliber handgun was used in some of the shootings.[22] A neighbor two houses down from the West 79th Street home said her security camera captured video of the perpetrator running away, with gunshots being heard.[23]

At approximately 6:00 a.m., police officers responded to a domestic disturbance report on West 79th Street. The perpetrator then carried out a carjacking and fled the scene, leading to a car chase with officers. The chase extended into Bossier City, Louisiana, about 15 miles away,[16] where Elkins died from a gunshot. There are conflicting reports[15] as to whether he was killed by a police officer,[22][24] or died by suicide.[25] Elkins had a rifle-style pistol when police confronted him.[22]

A preliminary autopsy report said that Elkins died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.[26][27]

Victims

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Five girls and three boys, ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old, were killed.[28][5][17][4] Those killed were identified by the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office as Jayla Elkins, aged 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Braylon Snow, 5, Khedarrion Snow, 6, and Sariahh Snow, 11.[22] Seven of the children were fathered by Elkins, and one child, Markaydon Pugh, was the son of Elkins' brother-in-law,[20][22][28] and the children's cousin.[11]

Four people were left wounded. Two were shot: his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, who was the mother of four of his children; and Christina Snow, his ex-wife, and the mother of three of his children.[12] Two were injured but not shot: Keosha Pugh, sister of Shaneiqua; and Keosha's 12-year-old daughter, who both jumped from the West 79th Street roof; the mother suffered broken bones but the daughter only had scratches.[29]

Aftermath

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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and his wife Sharon, announced that their foundation Love One Louisiana would cover the funeral expenses of all victims of the shooting. Kristi Gustavson, the CEO of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana announced two separate funds, one to help provide needs for survivors and another specialized in domestic violence protection.[30]

A prayer vigil was held on April 20, in honor of the victims and their families as well as the Cedar Grove community.[31] The funeral service will take place on May 9 at Summer Grove Baptist Church.[32]

Perpetrator

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The perpetrator was identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins (December 7, 1994 – April 19, 2026), of Shreveport.[12][33] A relative said Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court on April 20.[4] Elkins' brother told reporters that Elkins had been distraught about his marriage breaking down, with Elkins telling him "Bro, I don't want to lose my wife."[34]

Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard as a signal system and fire support specialist from 2013 to 2020. He was never deployed and left as a private.[28] At the time of the shooting, Elkins worked for United Parcel Service.[35]

Elkins had a prior criminal conviction in Caddo District Court.[36][28] In 2019, he was arrested on two charges: illegal use of weapons and carrying a firearm on school property. According to a police report, Elkins stated that he had walked outside to meet a friend who was going to pick him up, when another person in the car pulled a gun and pointed it at him; Elkins admitted to firing five rounds at the car as it left. The incident took place less than 300 feet from Caddo Magnet High School, and the gunshots were fired in the direction of the school while children were playing outside. Elkins pleaded guilty to the illegal weapons charge in October 2019; the second charge was dismissed, and Elkins was placed on probation for 18 months.[23] In 2016, he was also convicted of driving while intoxicated.[35]

Elkins' mother, Mahelia Elkins, gave birth to her son as a teenager and gave him away due to her crack cocaine dependency. He was raised by a family friend, Betty Walker, although Elkins eventually reconnected with his biological mother in the mid-2010s.[35] Walker said that in 2023, when Elkins' soon-to-be-wife Shaneiqua Pugh said she was considering leaving Elkins and taking her children with her, he was furious, and said to Pugh that if they tried to leave, "I'll kill you, my kids and myself."[37]

Walker stated that in February 2026, Elkins had attempted to kill himself.[37] Afterward, Walker said Elkins took medicine and partook in counseling at a nearby Veterans Affairs hospital.[37] According to a cousin of his brother-in-law, Elkins visited the hospital for a mental health evaluation and stayed for a week and a half before he was released.[21] According to his biological mother Mahelia, he called her home on April 5, telling his stepfather that he was having "dark thoughts" including suicide, abruptly ending the call after stating "Some people don't come back from their demons."[35]

Shreveport police said they were not aware of prior domestic violence issues.[4]

Investigation

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The Mossberg 715P used in the shooting

Police indicated that the incident spanned four separate crime scenes.[3] Authorities said the motive is currently unknown, but investigators believe the shooting was "entirely a domestic incident".[4]

On April 21, authorities announced the arrest of 56-year-old Charles Ford, a convicted felon, in connection to the rifle used in the shooting.[38] According to prosecutors, Ford initially denied having the gun, but later said he believed Elkins had stolen it from his truck. A court affidavit says Ford confronted Elkins, but "let it go" after Elkins became "offensive".[39] Under Louisiana law, a person convicted of illegal use of a weapon is banned from having a gun for at least 10 years, so neither Elkins nor Ford should have been able to own a gun.[36] Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents are investigating; the Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered help.[36][25]

Reactions

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Tom Arceneaux, the mayor of Shreveport, said at a news conference: "It's a terrible morning in Shreveport, and we all know my heart goes out to this entire community for the tragic event that has taken place this morning." He described the shooting as "a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we've had".[3]

The Caddo Parish Public Schools superintendent Keith Burton called on the community to take care of its children and families, and those that are carrying the weight of the tragedy.[5]

Governor Jeff Landry pledged state funds to pay for the funerals of the victims and said, "I couldn't place myself in the shoes of any father who could execute their child or their children. It was from one house to the other. It wasn't a fit of rage when he snapped once. It was systematic."[40]

Kathryn Spearman, an assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University who studies the intersection of domestic violence and child abuse, compared the family massacre with Justin Fairfax's murder of his wife and suicide four days earlier. Both perpetrators possessed a gun, were in the middle of contentious divorce proceedings, and expressed depressive thoughts to confidants. She said "Systems need to recognize these patterns as risk factors."[15]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ The Gun Violence Archive defines incidents in which four or more people are killed as "mass murder".[3]

References

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  1. ↑ Morales, Christina (April 24, 2026). "An Unthinkable Extreme of Domestic Violence: Killing Multiple Relatives". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Feds charge man with supplying gun used in Louisiana shooting that killed 8 kids". USA Today. April 21, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sainato, Michael (April 19, 2026). "Mass shooting rampage in Louisiana leaves eight children dead and others wounded". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Bates, Sophie; Oyekanmi, Lekan; Herbert, Gerald; Seewer, John (April 19, 2026). "Man kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting in Louisiana neighborhood". Associated Press. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Sneha Dhandapani; Chris Boyette; Leah Asmelash; Zoe Sottile (April 19, 2026). "Shreveport shooting: Louisiana gunman killed 8 children, including 7 of his own, police say, in deadliest mass shooting since 2024". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Riddle, Safiyah; Williams, Corey (April 21, 2026). "Deadly domestic violence cases stir calls for more prevention resources for Black communities". Associated Press. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ Duvernay, Adam (April 21, 2026). "Shreveport's domestic violence problem is obvious. A unified solution remains elusive". The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ Wellmann, Andrew (March 25, 2026). "Shreveport withdraws from domestic violence center partnership with sheriff's office". KSLA. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ Douglas, Leah; Dastin, Jeffrey (April 20, 2026). "Eight children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say". Reuters. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ Melimopoulos, Elizabeth (April 20, 2026). "Louisiana mass shooting: What we know about suspect, eight children killed". Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Asma-Sadeque, Samira (April 20, 2026). "Mother of La. Massacre Child Victim Wrote Haunting Post About Their Killer Years Ago". People. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Thomas, Rachael (April 20, 2026). "Detailed timeline of Cedar Grove mass shooting that left 8 kids dead in Shreveport". ksla.com. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  13. ↑ KOMO News (April 20, 2026). TIMELINE: Police detail events leading up to Louisiana mass shooting that left 8 children dead. Retrieved April 23, 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ Altman-Devilbiss, Alexx (April 20, 2026). "Police detail timeline of Louisiana mass shooting that left 8 children dead". KOMO-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 Hennessy-Fiske, Molly; Wu, Daniel; Paquette, Danielle; Hacker, Chris (April 21, 2026). "Louisiana gunman who killed eight children masked his rage before rampage". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Timms, Mariah (April 20, 2026). "An Hour of Chaos: How the Louisiana Shooting Unfolded". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Eight children killed in Louisiana shooting, police say". BBC. April 19, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ "8 children dead in Louisiana mass shooting, suspect ID'd. Live updates". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  19. ↑ McCALLUM, BRIAN (April 20, 2026). "Tragic details revealed in Shreveport mass shooting: child escapes, suspect's wife shot, more". The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 "Relatives of mass shooting victims in Louisiana pray for end to domestic violence". The Washington Post. April 20, 2026. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Hennessy-Fiske, Molly; Wu, Daniel (April 20, 2026). "Louisiana gunman had sought mental health treatment, relatives say". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "8 children killed in Louisiana mass shooting". NBC News. April 19, 2026. Archived from the original on April 24, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  23. 1 2 "SPD, LSP investigating fatal mass shootings involving 8 children in Cedar Grove, police chase into Bossier City". KTBS-TV. April 19, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  24. ↑ "8 children dead in Shreveport mass shooting. What we know". The Daily Advertiser. April 19, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Inside the Shreveport mass-shooter's descent into violence: 'Help guard my mind and emotions'". NOLA.com. April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Court affidavit: Shamar Elkins became 'offensive' when asked about missing gun last month". KTBS. April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Questions linger in Shreveport mass shooting as investigation into gunman's death continues, spotlighting veteran mental health". klax-tv.com. April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Why did a gunman kill 8 children in Louisiana: What we know about him". USA Today. April 19, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  29. ↑ Sottile, Zoe (April 21, 2026). "A Louisiana man killed 8 children, 7 of his own. His family said warning signs preceded the tragedy". CNN. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  30. ↑ Wells, Kennedy (April 20, 2026). "Love One Louisiana to cover funeral costs for mass shooting victims". KSLA News. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ Tyler, Presley Bo (April 20, 2026). "Shreveport community to come together in honor of those affected by shooting". The Times. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  32. ↑ Boucher, Makenzie (April 28, 2026). "Shreveport shooting victims' funerals announced". Shreveport Times. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  33. ↑ Walberg, Rae (April 19, 2026). "Father responsible for Shreveport mass shooting that killed 8 children, police say". WWLTV.com. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  34. ↑ Leake, Natasha (April 20, 2026). "Louisiana shooter 'lost his mind' after wife asked for divorce". Yahoo News. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Medina, Eduardo; Morales, Christina; Diaz, Johnny (April 19, 2026). "Haunted by 'Dark Thoughts,' Louisiana Father Kills 8 Children". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 "What to know about a Louisiana father fatally shooting 8 children, including his own". WRAL.com. April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 Medina, Eduardo; Morales, Christina; Jiménez, Jesus (April 20, 2026). "Louisiana Killer's Threats to Himself and Others Hinted at Future Violence". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Shreveport man arrested and charged in connection with Shamar Elkins securing firearm to commit mass shooting". justice.gov. April 21, 2026.
  39. ↑ Cline, Sara; Brook, Jack (April 21, 2026). "Gun used to kill 8 children was stolen from truck, Louisiana man tells investigators". The Associated Press. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  40. ↑ Demirdjian, Chris (April 21, 2026). "Gov. Landry visits Shreveport after mass shooting, announces state will cover funeral costs". KNOE-TV. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
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