A father in Shreveport, Louisiana, killed seven of his own children and one unrelated child in a shocking mass shooting. Police labeled it a domestic disturbance.
The attack started around 5:00 a.m. Sunday. The suspect shot the children at one property. He then stole a car and fled.
Officers chased him down and killed him.
Two adult women, including the children’s mother, suffered gunshot wounds. Both remain in critical condition.
A ninth child escaped by jumping from the home’s roof. Rescuers rushed the child to a hospital.
Police identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins. Shreveport Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon confirmed Elkins fired all shots alone.
The rampage spanned multiple locations. Elkins first shot a woman. He then targeted children at a second site.
One victim fled to a neighbor’s home and called police.
Family members revealed Elkins faced divorce. His wife had requested a split. The couple expected a court appearance Monday.
Elkins’s brother-in-law, Troy Brown, shared that Elkins lived with him. Brown noted Elkins unraveled after the first divorce argument.
Crystal Brown, cousin of a wounded woman, said, “He murdered his children… he shot his wife.”
Neighbors expressed disbelief. Mack London, 71, told NBC News he lived there for decades. “Nothing like this has ever happened on this street,” he said.
Officers arrived before 6:00 a.m. They discovered the children’s bodies and deemed the incident domestic.
Mourners gathered at the scene Sunday.
