The case spans two homes, two wounded women, one surviving child who escaped from a roof and a separate state police review of the suspect’s death.
SHREVEPORT, La. — Investigators in northwest Louisiana were trying Monday to reconstruct a fast-moving domestic violence attack that left eight children dead, two women hospitalized and the suspected gunman dead after a police chase that crossed from Shreveport into Bossier Parish.
What makes the case especially complex is not only the number of victims, but the number of scenes and agencies involved. Shreveport police are examining what happened at two homes in the Cedar Grove area, while Louisiana State Police are separately reviewing the officer-involved shooting that ended the suspect’s flight. Officials have identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins and said seven of the children killed were his own. The immediate questions now are how the shootings unfolded minute by minute, what warning signs may have existed, and what evidence will explain motive.
Police said the first shooting happened at a home on Harrison Street, where Elkins’ wife was wounded. Investigators said he then went to another nearby house on West 79th Street, where children and a second woman were shot. The second location became the central crime scene and the place where most of the victims were found. Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon said some children appeared to have tried to escape through the back of the house. One child was found dead on the roof, and a 13-year-old boy survived after jumping off and suffering broken bones. As officers worked those scenes, the suspect fled, carjacked a vehicle and drove into neighboring Bossier Parish, where officers opened fire during the pursuit and killed him. That final encounter is now under separate state review, as is standard in many officer-involved shootings.
Officials have released the names of the dead children: Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Braylon Snow, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Khedarrion Snow, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; and Sariahh Snow, 11. The coroner’s office said the children were identified by their mothers. Police said seven were siblings and the eighth was a cousin. Two women survived with serious injuries. Family members identified one as Shaneiqua Elkins and said she was expected to live after surgery. Police have not publicly released a full explanation of how the victims were related across the two households, and some family structure details remained unclear Monday. That uncertainty reflects how early the case still is, despite the high public profile and the large number of witnesses, relatives and officials now involved.
The developing record shows a mix of confirmed facts and major unknowns. Police said investigators were not aware of recent domestic violence arrests involving Elkins. At the same time, relatives told reporters that he and his wife had been separating and were due in court Monday. Court records cited by The Associated Press show Elkins pleaded guilty in 2019 to illegal use of weapons after firing several rounds at a vehicle and receiving probation. The Louisiana National Guard said he served from 2013 to 2020 as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist and had no deployments. None of those details, on their own, explain the motive in the current case. Investigators have not said what weapons were used in the shootings, how long the attack lasted, or whether any prior calls for service were tied to the homes involved.
Public officials have been careful to describe the attack as domestic violence, not a random public shooting, even as its scale placed it among the deadliest mass killings in the United States in recent years. That distinction matters to the investigation because it shifts attention toward family relationships, court records, witness accounts and the sequence between the two houses. Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the killings a tragedy unlike anything many city officials had seen. Police Chief Wayne Smith said he could not imagine how such an event could occur. At vigils and outside the scene, residents spoke less about policy than about disbelief. Mourners left flowers, held candles and stood in silence near the home where most of the children died. Neighbor Liza Demming said she heard the shots and later saw the aftermath from only a few houses away.
What comes next will likely move on two tracks. Shreveport police are expected to continue interviews, collect forensic evidence and clarify the relationship between the victims, the wounded women and the suspect. Louisiana State Police will determine how the pursuit ended and whether officers’ use of force complied with policy and law. City officials also said a community prayer vigil was being organized, and Councilman James Green scheduled a Monday news conference at Government Plaza. For the families, the next steps are more immediate and painful: medical updates for the wounded women, funeral arrangements for eight children and the slow release of more facts from investigators. For the city, the next milestone is the next formal briefing, when police may answer the questions that remained unresolved a day after the killings.
As of Monday, the central facts were settled but the motive was not: eight children were dead, two women were recovering, the suspect had been killed after fleeing, and multiple agencies were still trying to explain how the attack unfolded on April 19.
Author note: Last updated April 20, 2026.