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In a tragic incident that has left a community in shock, a Louisiana man allegedly killed seven of his children and their cousin, while grappling with “dark thoughts,” according to family members.
The Shreveport Police Department confirmed in a statement released on April 19 via Facebook that the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, carried out a “violent domestic incident” that resulted in the shooting of two adult women and the death of eight children, aged between one and 14 years. The horrific act unfolded across three different locations on the morning in question.
Following the shootings, police reported that Elkins carjacked a man at gunpoint and fled in the stolen vehicle, leading to a high-speed chase with law enforcement.
“The chase extended into Bossier Parish, where officers were compelled to engage the suspect,” police detailed. “In the ensuing confrontation, officers discharged their weapons, resulting in the suspect’s death at the scene.”
During a press conference, Corporal Chris Bordelon explained that the tragic series of events began around 5 a.m. on April 19. Elkins allegedly first shot one woman, who is currently hospitalized, before moving to another location where the children were killed. According to Bordelon, seven of the children were found inside the home, while one was discovered deceased on the roof, seemingly in a desperate attempt to escape, as reported by The Associated Press.
Another child jumped off the roof and is expected to survive, while a second adult female was also shot and being treated for what police described as “serious injuries.”
“I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said at the press conference. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
Family Says Shamar Elkins Had Been Going Through a Separation Before the Violence
Following the tragedy, family members began speaking out about Shamar and his relationship to the victims,
Crystal Brown identified one of the injured females, according to the AP, as Shamar’s wife and said the pair had been in the midst of a separation at the time of the violence.
“He murdered his children,” Crystal, who is the woman’s cousin, told the outlet. “He shot his wife.”
She described his children as “happy kids” who had been “very friendly” and “very sweet.”
Shamar’s mother Mahelia Elkins and stepfather Marcus Jackson also told The New York Times that their son had been going through a difficult time and sounded despondent when they talked to him on Easter Sunday.
During the conversation, Shamar told Marcus that his wife wanted a divorce and he was struggling with “dark thoughts.”
“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” Marcus recalled to the news outlet. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”
Mahelia did not know what problems the couple had, admitting that she was not very close with her son. She told The New York Times that she had him as a teenager and, in the midst of a crack, cocaine addiction, gave him to family friend Betty Walker to raise.
Betty told the news outlet she’d just seen the family last weekend when they came over for dinner and saw no sign of the violence to come.
“I was getting up this morning to make myself some coffee, and I got the call,” she said of learning of the deaths. “My babies — my babies are gone.”
According to Mahelia, Shamar worked at UPS and had also served in the Army before his death. The Army confirmed to The New York Times that he served in the Louisiana Army National guard as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist from August 2013 to August 2020.
Investigation into Shamar Elkins’ Mass Shooting Remains Ongoing
In the aftermath of the shootings, officials said they were still struggling to make sense of the multiple crime scenes.
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport—and so right now we’re going to process the information,” Shreveport City Mayor Tom Arceneaux said at the press conference. “It is in very good hands, but it’s a terrible morning.”
As the Shreveport Police continue to investigate the killings, the Louisiana State Police will conduct an investigation into the officer-involved shooting that killed Shamar. Shreveport police said although “no wrongdoing is suspected” in that shooting the evaluation is a standard part of department policy.
Shamar is believed to be the only suspect involved in the shootings that claimed the lives of his family members.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy that has deeply impacted our entire community,” police said. “The loss of these young lives is devastating, and our hearts are with the families affected.”