Eight children who were tragically killed in Louisiana have now been identified. The devastating events unfolded early in the morning when Shamar Elkins, a 31-year-old army veteran, reportedly carried out the shootings at three different locations in Shreveport, as reported by authorities.
Shreveport Police Department Corporal Chris Bordelon disclosed that the extensive crime scene spanned across three sites in the Cedar Grove area. Elkins, fleeing the scene, engaged in a carjacking before being pursued by patrol officers and ultimately shot by law enforcement.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office officially released the names of the seven child siblings and a cousin who lost their lives in the incident. The victims, aged between 3 and 11, were identified by their mothers, with the group comprising three boys and five girls, as detailed in a statement by the office.
The children were named 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). Autopsies have been scheduled for the victims by the coroner’s office.
Shockingly, Bordelon confirmed that seven of the children were discovered deceased inside one of the residences, while another child was tragically found dead on the roof, seemingly attempting to escape. The identity of the child on the roof remains uncertain at this point.
State Representative Tammy Phelps noted that some children made efforts to flee through the back door. She expressed her disbelief at the harrowing scene faced by police officers and first responders upon arrival.
Two women who sustained injuries in the incident were reported to be in critical condition by officials. Louisiana governor Jeff Landry and US House Speaker Mike Johnson extended their condolences, commending the swift response of law enforcement.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities yet to determine the motive behind the violence. Bordelon stated that although much remains to be investigated, detectives believe the shooting was primarily a domestic-related incident.
This incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since January 2024, when eight individuals lost their lives in a Chicago suburb, according to data compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University.
