Eight children aged between one and 14 have been killed in a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, in what police say began as a domestic-related incident.

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Authorities said a single gunman shot 10 people early in the morning before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. Police later pursued the suspect and fatally shot him.

The attack, which unfolded across several locations in the same neighbourhood, has been described by city officials as one of the worst tragedies in the city’s history.

Early morning shooting

Police said the incident began at around 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT).

Officers responding to reports of gunfire found multiple crime scenes, including two homes on the same block on West 79th Street and another residence on nearby Harrison Street.

Shreveport Police Corporal Chris Bordelon said officers arrived at one home shortly before 06:00 and discovered several victims.

“All of the deceased in this case are juveniles,” Bordelon told reporters.

Investigators believe the shooting was domestic in nature. Some of the children killed were related to the suspected gunman, according to police.

Officials said one person who had been shot at the original residence managed to flee to a nearby home, creating an additional crime scene.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims or the suspect while family members are being notified.

Suspect killed after pursuit

Police said the suspected gunman fled the area after the shootings and carjacked a vehicle to escape.

Officers pursued the vehicle into another neighbourhood, where they confronted the suspect. During the encounter, police fired at the man, who died at the scene.

Further details about the circumstances of the confrontation have not yet been released.

Investigators from Shreveport Police are working with Louisiana State Police and several other agencies as they seek to determine what led to the shooting.

Police Chief Wayne Smith said authorities would continue investigating until they had answers.

“We are going to be working diligently however long it takes to get some answers to what has taken place,” he said.

Community mourning

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said the incident had deeply affected the city.

“We have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners’ personnel,” he said. “This affects the entire community, so we all mourn with these families.”

He described the event as possibly the most tragic incident the city has experienced.

“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had in Shreveport,” he said, urging people to keep the families and the city in their prayers.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he and his wife were “heartbroken over this horrific situation” and offered prayers for those affected.

He also thanked emergency responders working at the scene.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents Louisiana’s Fourth District, also expressed condolences, calling the shooting a “heartbreaking tragedy”.

He said his thoughts were with the victims, their families and the wider Shreveport community.

Deadliest US mass shooting in over a year

According to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonprofit organisation that tracks gun violence across the United States, the incident is the deadliest mass shooting in the country since January 2024.

In that case, eight people were killed in Joliet, Illinois.

The organisation defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot, excluding the suspected attacker.

Investigators say they are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses as they try to establish the full sequence of events that led to the killings.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 20 April 2026

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Here we go again,my condolences to the bereaved obviously we need stronger gun control and punishment for those who don’t comply with those laws….well Mike Johnson you are speaker you are in position to actually do something about it it’s your state…….won’t hold my breath. my guess is this spineless groveler will just hide for a few news cycles…..what a pathetic POS he is.perhaps he’s more interested in policing what his son watches on the internet ehh???DO SOMETHING MIKE it’s your state you are speaker!!

Oh sweet Jesus!

Nothing, but nothing, will be done. The gun <deleted> will continue to call the shots!

More nutjobs in the usa the whole places is failing !!

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Here we go again,my condolences to the bereaved obviously we need stronger gun control and punishment for those who don’t comply with those laws…

The guy was shot dead by police. It doesn't get any stronger than that.

Dollars to donut holes, the guy was known to police and out of jail on some kind of compassionate release.

According to RT:

Reports circulating online have identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins, though officials have not yet formally confirmed the identity.

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Here we go again,my condolences to the bereaved obviously we need stronger gun control and punishment for those who don’t comply with those laws….well Mike Johnson you are speaker you are in position to actually do something about it it’s your state…….won’t hold my breath. my guess is this spineless groveler will just hide for a few news cycles…..what a pathetic POS he is.perhaps he’s more interested in policing what his son watches on the internet ehh???DO SOMETHING MIKE it’s your state you are speaker!!

"Stronger gun control" Whats that look like to you ?
"Punishment" for those that don't comply. Whats that look like to you ?

I'm truly interested.

No private use.

Ankle bracelets for offenders.

30 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

"Stronger gun control" Whats that look like to you ?
"Punishment" for those that don't comply. Whats that look like to you ?

I'm truly interested.

Strong background checks mandatory training and testing safe storage outlawing semi auto long guns not handguns.confiscating weapons from domestic abusers untle proven they are no longer a threat to the person they abused.a proven reason for concealed carry.just common sense stuff.

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

13 minutes ago, Tug said:

Strong background checks mandatory training and testing safe storage outlawing semi auto long guns not handguns.confiscating weapons from domestic abusers untle proven they are no longer a threat to the person they abused.a proven reason for concealed carry.just common sense stuff.

You may be setting the bar too high with the last sentence.

Apparently, 7 of the kids were his and he killed them in their sleep. That's not a gun control problem. That's something else.

Authorities revealed that Elkins was the father to seven of these children, while the eighth victim was his nephew. The specific identity of the cousin among the victims has not been disclosed.

According to Christopher Bordelon, a spokesman for the Shreveport Police Department, most of the children suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head while they were asleep.

https://internewscast.com/news/us/eight-children-identified-in-louisiana-shooting-involving-former-army-veteran-shamar-elkins/

Stronger gun laws don't work when you have weak judges, and lax enforcement of current laws. What should have been 2 prior felony convictions, and banned from owning or buying a firearm in the future, turned into a slap on the wrist.

Probation for discharging a weapon in public, when no immediate threat to his safety. Aside from carrying on school grounds. Laws with no bite, when not enforced.

Yes, the system is broken ...

Plea bargained to a misdemeanor, with other felony charge dropped. WTF

21 minutes ago, Tug said:

Strong background checks mandatory training and testing safe storage outlawing semi auto long guns not handguns.confiscating weapons from domestic abusers untle proven they are no longer a threat to the person they abused.a proven reason for concealed carry.just common sense stuff.

Strong background checks. You have this already
Training/testing. We used to have it in our schools and we never had school shooting.

Safe Storage. You have that requirement and trigger locks already
Domestic abusers, you also have that already. Its policy of every department to remove guns when someone has been arrested for DV.
Provide a reason for CC. You have that already too AND the training that comes with it.

So just what would you add to this list that would help you sleep at night ?
Everything you want already exists except outlawing guns in America, that will never happen.
Clearly, the guns aren't the issue, its the people. You only need to look at the EU etc. where they've done just that only to have people killed with knives and such. The death rate didn't drop, just the method.

Lets be honest, its not the deaths that bother people. If it was then these deaths would.

Notice that "gun" deaths aren't even in the top 10.

AI result-

Top 10 Leading Causes of Death (2023-2024 Data)

• Heart Disease: ~683,000–702,000+ deaths

• Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): ~608,000–620,000+ deaths

• Unintentional Injuries (Accidents): ~197,000–227,000+ deaths (largely driven by overdoses)

• Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases): ~160,000–166,000+ deaths

• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: ~145,000+ deaths

• Alzheimer's Disease: ~116,000–134,000+ deaths

• Diabetes: ~94,000–102,000+ deaths

• Kidney Disease (Nephritis/Nephrosis): ~55,000+ deaths

• Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis: ~52,000+ deaths

• Suicide: ~48,000+ deaths

You're right - it's not really about the death count. It's about which deaths feel important and which deaths can be used to advance other agendas. Sad.

1 hour ago, Slowhand225 said:

Lets be honest, its not the deaths that bother people. If it was then these deaths would.

Notice that "gun" deaths aren't even in the top 10.

AI result-

Top 10 Leading Causes of Death (2023-2024 Data)

• Heart Disease: ~683,000–702,000+ deaths

• Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): ~608,000–620,000+ deaths

• Unintentional Injuries (Accidents): ~197,000–227,000+ deaths (largely driven by overdoses)

• Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases): ~160,000–166,000+ deaths

• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: ~145,000+ deaths

• Alzheimer's Disease: ~116,000–134,000+ deaths

• Diabetes: ~94,000–102,000+ deaths

• Kidney Disease (Nephritis/Nephrosis): ~55,000+ deaths

• Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis: ~52,000+ deaths

• Suicide: ~48,000+ deaths

The difference is, that the US is unwilling to do anything about gundeaths.

1 hour ago, Slowhand225 said:

Lets be honest, its not the deaths that bother people. If it was then these deaths would.

Notice that "gun" deaths aren't even in the top 10.

AI result-

Top 10 Leading Causes of Death (2023-2024 Data)

• Heart Disease: ~683,000–702,000+ deaths

• Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): ~608,000–620,000+ deaths

• Unintentional Injuries (Accidents): ~197,000–227,000+ deaths (largely driven by overdoses)

• Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases): ~160,000–166,000+ deaths

• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: ~145,000+ deaths

• Alzheimer's Disease: ~116,000–134,000+ deaths

• Diabetes: ~94,000–102,000+ deaths

• Kidney Disease (Nephritis/Nephrosis): ~55,000+ deaths

• Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis: ~52,000+ deaths

• Suicide: ~48,000+ deaths

Let's be honest.....
The topic is children—not the overall population.
Firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens (ages 1–19) in the U.S. since 2020.

https://www.cdc.gov/firearm-violence/php/research-summaries/children-and-teen-impacts.html

America's love affair with guns. Simply a fatal attraction the lawmakers do little about.

When the President has not said a word on the tragedy but has time for 200 posts in last 24 hours, it simply show how unimportant is the gun problem.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

Apparently, 7 of the kids were his and he killed them in their sleep. That's not a gun control problem. That's something else.

Authorities revealed that Elkins was the father to seven of these children, while the eighth victim was his nephew. The specific identity of the cousin among the victims has not been disclosed.

According to Christopher Bordelon, a spokesman for the Shreveport Police Department, most of the children suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head while they were asleep.

https://internewscast.com/news/us/eight-children-identified-in-louisiana-shooting-involving-former-army-veteran-shamar-elkins/

False dichotomy—domestic violence explains motive; firearm access explains lethality.
Access to a firearm is what often turns those situations into mass fatalities.

4 hours ago, Slowhand225 said:

Lets be honest, its not the deaths that bother people. If it was then these deaths would.

Notice that "gun" deaths aren't even in the top 10.

AI result-

Top 10 Leading Causes of Death (2023-2024 Data)

• Heart Disease: ~683,000–702,000+ deaths

• Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): ~608,000–620,000+ deaths

• Unintentional Injuries (Accidents): ~197,000–227,000+ deaths (largely driven by overdoses)

• Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases): ~160,000–166,000+ deaths

• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: ~145,000+ deaths

• Alzheimer's Disease: ~116,000–134,000+ deaths

• Diabetes: ~94,000–102,000+ deaths

• Kidney Disease (Nephritis/Nephrosis): ~55,000+ deaths

• Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis: ~52,000+ deaths

• Suicide: ~48,000+ deaths

What about the worst one of all . Approximately 100 to 110 people die in motor vehicle crashes every day in the United States,

Are they going to Ban Motor vehicles?

It's not about guns it's about People , one can't fix stupid .

If there are no guns the stupid ones will use something else.

3 hours ago, lou norman said:

You're right - it's not really about the death count. It's about which deaths feel important and which deaths can be used to advance other agendas. Sad.

I assume many of top causes of death cancer stroke alziemers ect are more prevalent in older people either through bad life choices or just age .many gun related deaths are nothing to do with how you yourself lead your life but as with all gun tragedies " now is not the time to talk about reform now is a time for prayer " perhaps hegseth can quote some more from pulp fiction

50 minutes ago, digger70 said:

What about the worst one of all . Approximately 100 to 110 people die in motor vehicle crashes every day in the United States,

Are they going to Ban Motor vehicles?

It's not about guns it's about People , one can't fix stupid .

If there are no guns the stupid ones will use something else.

You're right, you can't fix stupid. So ban guns for God's sake because once stupid gets his hands on a gun who knows how many will die.

If this murderer had had nothing but a knife it's possible some of his kids may have had a chance to survive his rampage.

4 hours ago, stevenl said:

The difference is, that the US is unwilling to do anything about gundeaths.

So again, I'll ask. What exactly does that look like to you ?

You have laws on the books that you don't enforce.
The shooter in this case was a prohibited person, meaning he stole the gun he used or bought it from whoever did.

50 minutes ago, bannork said:

You're right, you can't fix stupid. So ban guns for God's sake because once stupid gets his hands on a gun who knows how many will die.

If this murderer had had nothing but a knife it's possible some of his kids may have had a chance to survive his rampage.

I'm not giving up my rights so you can feel safe.
You're correct, you can't fix stupid but you can choose not to be a sheep.

30 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

I'm not giving up my rights so you can feel safe.
You're correct, you can't fix stupid but you can choose not to be a sheep.

You don't have to give up your rights. Just need stricter gun laws.

This action had nothing to do with guns. That's just the tool he used to do something he was going to do anyway. This wasn't going into a school or business but killing his own children. This is a very disturbed individual that was a ticking time bomb. That he waited this long is odd, but having kids does put some over the edge. Some who should never breed in the first place. He could have used a knife or baseball bat as the children were sleeping. True, it's easier with a gun but in this case it was going to happen anyway. Thank God one got away.

1 hour ago, bannork said:

You're right, you can't fix stupid. So ban guns for God's sake because once stupid gets his hands on a gun who knows how many will die.

If this murderer had had nothing but a knife it's possible some of his kids may have had a chance to survive his rampage.

Most gun owners are legitimate hunters, target shooters and self defense owners. You can't fix some mental illnesses but only hope they get stopped as quickly as possible. You can get your hands on an illegal gun very easily, and if you're planning murder, nothing's going to stop you besides another gun.

19 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

You don't have to give up your rights. Just need stricter gun laws.

So I'll ask for the 3rd time.

What does that look like to you, exactly ?
Certainly you have ideas that are different from the thousands of laws you already have.
Love to hear them

9 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

So I'll ask for the 3rd time.

What does that look like to you, exactly ?
Certainly you have ideas that are different from the thousands of laws you already have.
Love to hear them

Try listening to the majority of Americans including gun owners for a change. They want safe storage laws, universal background checks, raising legal age to own arms and red flag laws. Maga folks like you opposed strict gun laws and policies to own firearms including assualt firearms lke the AR-15. They also opposed Red Flag laws. Maga want more freedom to own firearms and AR-15. You asked and I have provided.