Man Who Killed Seven of His Children in the US Is Identified

A burst of domestic violence in Shreveport, Louisiana, turned catastrophic when a man killed eight children — seven of them his own — across a rampage that unfolded at three locations, police said.

The early-morning attack at a home in the city marked the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, according to figures compiled by the Gun Violence Archive.

Two women were also shot and critically wounded, among them the mother of several of the children who were killed.

Investigators said initial findings suggest the suspect first shot one woman before going to a nearby house, where he opened fire on the children.

Shamar Elkins was killed by police after a chase

Police named the gunman as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins. After fleeing in a carjacked vehicle, he led officers on a pursuit before police shot him dead, authorities said.

Bullet holes mark the door of the house where the attack happened

“At the end of that pursuit, the suspect exited the vehicle with a firearm, and ultimately our officers were forced to neutralise the suspect,” police corporal Chris Bordelon told reporters.

A videographer at the scene reported seeing five bullet holes in the white front door of the small two-storey house. Bouquets of flowers were later placed nearby by mourners.

Mr Bordelon said seven of the eight children killed were the gunman’s “own”.

He said officers “are still actively investigating, trying to determine the why” as they searched for evidence across a crime scene stretching over three residences.

“We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” Cpl Bordelon said, describing the case as a “domestic disturbance”.

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Police said Elkins had been arrested in 2019 in a firearms case to which he pleaded guilty, but added they were not aware of any other domestic violence history involving him.

“This is a terrible event to occur. It’s especially important and distressing that the victims are all children,” city Mayor Tom Arceneaux told reporters.

“It lets you know that evil still exists in the world and that we need to be fighting everything we can to overcome that evil with good, to shed light in the darkness.”

Officials said nine children were at the second home visited by the gunman. One child survived and was being treated in hospital for an injury that was not considered life-threatening, Mr Arceneaux said.

Corporal Chris Bordelon speaks to reporters across from the house where the shooting occurred

The coroner’s office said the children who died 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.

ABC affiliate KTBS reported that both women were shot in the head.

Police said one of the women, who was shot in the lower part of the face, alerted a neighbour, prompting the 911 emergency call that brought officers to the area between 5am and 5.30am local time.

Freddie Montgomery, 72, who lives across the street from the house where the children were killed, said he watched police remove bodies from the home yesterday morning.

“At this time yesterday afternoon, all of those kids were in the front yard playing. And he was sitting on the porch,” Mr Montgomery said.

People gather at a candlelight vigil held last night

One of Louisiana’s two US senators, Republican Bill Cassidy, described the attack as an episode of “horrific violence” and said he hoped those who survived would recover quickly.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was “heartbroken”.

Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, who was born in Shreveport and represents the region in Congress, condemned the killings on X as a “senseless tragedy”.

“It’s a terrible morning in Shreveport and we all mourn with the victims,” Mr Arceneaux said at a news conference.

The United States, where firearms are widely accessible, is repeatedly shaken by gun violence, with thousands of people killed each year. It has the highest rate of gun-related deaths among developed nations.