Shreveport Shooting Leaves Community in Shock

A mass shooting in Shreveport leaves eight children dead, shaking the community and raising urgent questions.

By Charles C. James — Political news editor

Last updated: April 21, 2026 12:00 am • 5 Min Read

A mass shooting in Shreveport leaves eight children dead, shaking the community and raising urgent questions.

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Community in Shock After Tragedy in Shreveport SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Associated Press) — On Monday, a shocked Louisiana city tried to deal with the fact that a father who was splitting from his wife and using an assault-style weapon killed eight children, even though he had been convicted of a crime for having a gun in 2019. The violence spread around Shreveport the day after the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in two years. Schools brought in counselors for the young victims' classmates, while community leaders called for a city-wide effort to stop domestic violence. "We can't wait until the next crisis," stated Sheriff Henry Whitehorn of Caddo Parish. "We owe it to the eight kids who died." Police reported that the shooter, Shamar Elkins, killed seven of his children and a nephew. His wife and another woman were also shot and injured.

Family Events and Accounts: What Happened Before the Attack Troy Brown, Elkins' brother-in-law, said that Elkins had voluntarily entered into a Department of Veterans Affairs facility in January for just over a week to get help with his mental health. Brown resided in the house and was at work at the time of the attack. He said that Elkins looked "better when he came home." Brown added that Elkins' wife wanted a divorce, which was making him stressed. When Brown departed for work on Saturday night, everything appeared quiet in the house. The kids were either playing games or watching TV. Brown told The Associated Press, "All I know is that he just snapped." "If I hadn't been at work, he would have killed everyone in the house, including me." When the shooting started, Brown's wife, Keosha Pugh, made frantic calls for help, and their 12-year-old daughter got out through the roof of the house. After falling, his wife broke her pelvis and has since had surgery. Lionel Pugh claimed, "She said she was running for her life." "The only people he didn't kill were the ones who got away." Elkins died after running away and being chased by the police. Wayne Smith claimed it wasn't clear if authorities shot him or if he shot himself. There were three boys and five girls that died, and their ages ranged from 3 to 11 years old.

Questions About Gun Access and the Law The shooter didn't seem to have a significant criminal history, but court records showed that Elkins was put on probation in 2019 after admitting to using weapons illegally. In that case, he shot five times at a car and told the police that someone inside had pointed a pistol at him. According to Louisiana law, anyone who is found guilty of certain serious felonies, such as unauthorized use of weapons, can't have a gun for at least 10 years after they finish their sentence and probation. On Monday, officials said they were looking into how and when Elkins got the gun. In recent years, Louisiana has made it easier to obtain guns, but planned steps to make gun control stricter have been stalled. Chris Bordelon, a police spokesperson, stated that investigators didn't know about any prior domestic violence problems involving Elkins.

Timeline of Violence and Official Response Officials say the shooting started early Sunday morning at two homes. Elkins murdered a woman in an area south of downtown, then shot at the house where the children were located a few blocks away. Laurance Guidry of the Caddo Community Action Agency stated that one of the victims, 5-year-old Braylon Snow, was getting ready to graduate from preschool next month. During a news conference, Gov. Jeff Landry said that the tragedy was worse than anything else violent he has seen before. He said that the foundation set up by the first lady of the state will pay for the children's funerals.

Remembering the Victims and Community Grief Family members said that Shaneiqua Elkins was a caring mother who was proud of her children's accomplishments. Pugh said, "She did a good job with those kids." "They were the most important thing in her life." Family members remembered seeing the children play happily in their yard on Sunday mornings and said they were happy and well cared for. A memorial of plush animals, flowers, and balloons has grown around the house. The mayor of Shreveport described it as one of the worst days in the city's history. A database kept by The Associated Press and USA Today in cooperation with Northeastern University says this was the worst mass shooting in the U.S. since January 2024.

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By Charles C. James ✔

Political news editor

Charles C. James is a Senior Political Correspondent with over a decade of experience covering Capitol Hill, federal policy, and national elections across the United States.