A Louisiana city is reeling after eight children were killed in a mass shooting Saturday night, according to police. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith and the city’s mayor addressed the shooting during a Sunday morning news conference, describing it as a domestic incident. Police identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins. Elkins was the father of seven of the children killed in the shooting. Elkins’ wife was one of two women injured by gunfire, according to a report by CNN.CNN also reports that Elkins was in the Louisiana Army National Guard for seven years until August 2020.He was never deployed, according to CNN.According to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon, Elkins had been arrested in 2019 in a firearms case. He said police were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.Investigators said 10 people were shot during the disturbance.Here is everything we know about the shooting: Children identifiedThe children were identified by their mothers as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.Two adult women were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. A teenager was also hurt, but authorities said those injuries were not considered life-threatening.Shreveport Police confirmed Elkins shot the mother first and then shot eight children, seven of whom were his own.Multiple scenesAccording to investigators, the suspect first shot a woman on Harrison Street before going to a home in the 300 block of West 79th Street, where the shooting continued.Police said officers responded to the shooting just before 6 a.m. and determined the case was domestic in nature.Carjacking led to police chaseAfter leaving the scene, the suspect allegedly stole a car near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street.Police pursued the vehicle into Bossier Parish, where the chase ended.Officers kill suspect: During the pursuit, three police officers fired their weapons, killing the suspect.Authorities said they believe the suspect was the only person who fired gunshots at the shooting scene. Timeline:5:55 a.m.A caller told dispatch they were on top of a house and that a suspect was inside with a man. The caller said the suspect was a relative and that nine people were at the residence. The caller said the suspect had shot everyone inside the home and that she and her children had fled from the roof to the backyard.6:01 a.m.Officers arrived at the scene.6:03 a.m.Officers made contact with the caller.Shortly afterPolice called the fire department to investigate.6:07 a.m.A second shooting was reported in the 500 block of Harrison Street. A caller said her boyfriend had shot her, taken three children and fled the scene.6:10 a.m.Dispatch linked the Harrison Street shooting to the shooting on West 79th Street.6:15 a.m.Officers received information that the suspect had carjacked someone.6:17 a.m.Officers located the stolen vehicle traveling on Interstate 49.6:18 a.m.A chase began and continued into Bossier City.6:20 a.m.Officers believed three children might be inside the fleeing vehicle as it exited near the Swan Lake area.6:25 a.m.Officers found injured victims from the Harrison Street shooting.6:30 a.m.Officers located and fatally shot the suspect in Bossier City.6:40 a.m.Officers determined there were no children inside the vehicle.6:55 a.m.Police found multiple deceased children at the home on West 79th Street.7:14 a.m.Shreveport police contacted the Louisiana State Police to investigate the officer-involved shooting.
SHREVEPORT, La. —
A Louisiana city is reeling after eight children were killed in a mass shooting Saturday night, according to police.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith and the city’s mayor addressed the shooting during a Sunday morning news conference, describing it as a domestic incident.
Police identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins.
Elkins was the father of seven of the children killed in the shooting. Elkins’ wife was one of two women injured by gunfire, according to a report by CNN.
CNN also reports that Elkins was in the Louisiana Army National Guard for seven years until August 2020.
He was never deployed, according to CNN.
According to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon, Elkins had been arrested in 2019 in a firearms case. He said police were not aware of any other domestic violence issues.
Investigators said 10 people were shot during the disturbance.
Here is everything we know about the shooting:
Children identified
The children were identified by their mothers as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.
Two adult women were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. A teenager was also hurt, but authorities said those injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Shreveport Police confirmed Elkins shot the mother first and then shot eight children, seven of whom were his own.
Multiple scenes
According to investigators, the suspect first shot a woman on Harrison Street before going to a home in the 300 block of West 79th Street, where the shooting continued.
Police said officers responded to the shooting just before 6 a.m. and determined the case was domestic in nature.
Carjacking led to police chase
After leaving the scene, the suspect allegedly stole a car near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street.
Police pursued the vehicle into Bossier Parish, where the chase ended.
Officers kill suspect:
During the pursuit, three police officers fired their weapons, killing the suspect.
Authorities said they believe the suspect was the only person who fired gunshots at the shooting scene.
Timeline:
5:55 a.m.
A caller told dispatch they were on top of a house and that a suspect was inside with a man. The caller said the suspect was a relative and that nine people were at the residence. The caller said the suspect had shot everyone inside the home and that she and her children had fled from the roof to the backyard.
6:01 a.m.
Officers arrived at the scene.
6:03 a.m.
Officers made contact with the caller.
Shortly after
Police called the fire department to investigate.
6:07 a.m.
A second shooting was reported in the 500 block of Harrison Street. A caller said her boyfriend had shot her, taken three children and fled the scene.
6:10 a.m.
Dispatch linked the Harrison Street shooting to the shooting on West 79th Street.
6:15 a.m.
Officers received information that the suspect had carjacked someone.
6:17 a.m.
Officers located the stolen vehicle traveling on Interstate 49.
6:18 a.m.
A chase began and continued into Bossier City.
6:20 a.m.
Officers believed three children might be inside the fleeing vehicle as it exited near the Swan Lake area.
6:25 a.m.
Officers found injured victims from the Harrison Street shooting.
6:30 a.m.
Officers located and fatally shot the suspect in Bossier City.
6:40 a.m.
Officers determined there were no children inside the vehicle.
6:55 a.m.
Police found multiple deceased children at the home on West 79th Street.
7:14 a.m.
Shreveport police contacted the Louisiana State Police to investigate the officer-involved shooting.