A domestic violence incident in the southern U.S. state of Louisiana has left eight children dead, making it the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, according to national gun violence data.
Police said the attack unfolded early Sunday morning in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, where authorities believe a 31-year-old man, identified as Shamar Elkins, carried out a domestic violence rampage across multiple locations before dying after a police pursuit.
Investigators said the violence began shortly before 6 a.m. and stretched across at least two homes. Authorities described the incident as a family-related tragedy rather than a random public attack. According to police, Elkins allegedly shot multiple victims inside residences connected to his family before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed that the victims were three boys and five girls between the ages of three and 11. Seven of the children were siblings, while one was their cousin. Two women were also seriously wounded, including the mother of several of the victims.
Authorities later identified the children as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Braylon Snow, 5; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Sariahh Snow, 11. Officials said seven of the children were fathered by Elkins, while one was a relative living in the household.
Police said the suspect fled after the shootings, allegedly carjacking a vehicle before leading officers on a chase into nearby Bossier City. Authorities later located him following a confrontation with law enforcement. Officials have not fully clarified whether he died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators believe the killings may have been linked to domestic tensions and an ongoing separation involving Elkins and one of the injured women. Family members told media outlets that the suspect had reportedly struggled emotionally in recent months amid relationship difficulties and custody-related concerns. Reports also indicate he had previous legal trouble involving firearms and had undergone mental health treatment.
Officials in Shreveport described the event as one of the darkest days in the city’s history. Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the killings a devastating tragedy for the community, while police urged residents to support the surviving family members and first responders affected by the case. According to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, the shooting is the deadliest mass killing in the United States since early 2024.
The case has renewed national conversations about domestic violence, family-related mass shootings, and access to firearms in high-risk households.
Experts note that many mass killings in the United States occur within families or among people who know one another, rather than in public spaces.
