Deadliest US Mass Shooting in Two Years Leaves Louisiana Community in Mourning
Shreveport, LA — A quiet neighborhood in northwestern Louisiana has been shattered by an unthinkable act of violence. In what authorities are describing as a “family annihilation,” a 31-year-old man fatally shot eight children and critically wounded two women early Sunday morning, April 19, 2026.
The suspect, identified by the Shreveport Police Department as Shamar Elkins, was later killed by law enforcement following a pursuit and carjacking. The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years.
The Timeline of Violence
The rampage began before sunrise, around 5:00 a.m., across two separate residences in the Cedar Grove neighborhood.
- First Attack: Elkins first targeted a woman at one home, shooting her in the face.
- Second Attack: He then drove to a nearby residence where the children were located. Investigators state that the children were shot “execution-style.”
- The Escape: In a desperate attempt to survive, some children tried to flee through a back door or windows. One child was tragically found dead on the roof of the house. A 13-year-old survived after jumping from the roof to escape the gunfire.
- Police Pursuit: After fleeing the second scene, Elkins carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint. Officers engaged in a pursuit that ended with police opening fire; Elkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Victims
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the eight young victims, ranging in age from 3 to 11. Seven of the children were Elkins’ own, while the eighth was a cousin.
| Name | Age |
| Jayla Elkins | 3 |
| Shayla Elkins | 5 |
| Braylon Snow | 5 |
| Kayla Pugh | 6 |
| Khedarrion Snow | 6 |
| Layla Pugh | 7 |
| Markaydon Pugh | 10 |
| Sariahh Snow | 11 |
The two wounded women, identified as the mothers of the children, remain in critical condition. One of the women, Shaneiqua Pugh, was Elkins’ wife. Relatives noted that the couple was in the process of separating and was scheduled to appear in court the following Monday.
Background and Warnings
While police had no record of recent domestic violence calls involving Elkins, he had a prior criminal history, including a 2019 guilty plea for the illegal use of weapons. He also served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013 to 2020 as a signal support specialist.
Family members have since come forward, describing a man struggling with “dark thoughts.” Elkins’ stepfather recalled a recent conversation where Shamar expressed distress over his failing marriage, stating, “Some people don’t come back from their demons.”
Community in Mourning
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the event “the worst tragic situation” the city has ever faced. On Sunday evening, hundreds of community members gathered for a prayer vigil near the site of the shooting, leaving flowers and stuffed animals in memory of the eight lives lost.
“What began as a domestic dispute has ended in irreversible harm,” the District Attorney’s office said in a statement. “Shreveport is overwhelmed by grief.”
