Eight children were killed by a gunman in the Louisiana city of Shreveport on Sunday night, in an incident police have described as “unimaginably horrific.”
The gunman, who has now been identified, shot and killed the eight victims — all minors, aged between 1 to about 12 years old. Seven of the children were his own. The gunman also shot his wife and the mother of his children, Shaneiqua Elkins, and another woman. Both women remain in critical condition, according to Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon.
Bordelon told the press the shootings were a result of a “domestic disturbance” and that the aftermath of the violence “is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen.”
Bordelon added that detectives were confident the shooting was “entirely a domestic incident.”
The gunman stole a car while fleeing the scene of the shootings and later died after officers fired at him during a pursuit.
Officials said they are continuing to gather details across the multiple crime scenes, including the two homes and a third location.
The mass shooting is the deadliest in the US since January 2024, when eight people were killed in Illinois, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonprofit that records gun violence in the US.
Less than 48 hours before he committed the atrocities against his own family, the gunman posted a picture of one of his daughters with the caption about their “lil 1 on 1 date.” Both he and his wife were active on social media, regularly posting pictures of their family.
Democratic state Representative Tammy Phelps spoke at a news conference, saying, “I can’t even imagine what the police officers, first responders actually dealt with when they got here today.”
Mayor Tom Arceneaux of Shreveport described the incident as a “tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.”
“It’s a terrible morning, and we all mourn for the victims,” he said.
On social media, Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana said that he and his wife Sharon “are heartbroken over this horrific situation, and we’re praying for everyone affected.”
The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office released a statement, asserting that the shootings indicate that “domestic violence is not a private matter” and that “this tragedy’s impact demands our collective attention.”
“This is not simply an event; it is a profound community loss,” it said, adding that domestic violence is “a community issue with far-reaching consequences, often affecting the most vulnerable among us — our children.”
“We see how quickly situations can escalate. We see how patterns of control, fear and instability can grow behind closed doors. And we know that intervention — whether through reporting, support services, or community awareness — can make a difference.”
Stop the cycle of violence. If you are concerned about your behaviour, or about someone using violence, call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone you know is in need of help due to sexual assault or family and domestic violence contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
In an emergency call 000. Lifeline (13 11 14) and, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 13YARN (13 92 76)