The Caddo Parish Coroner confirmed eight children, ages 3 to 11, were killed in a Shreveport, Louisiana, shooting on April 19. Authorities say 31-year-old Shamar Elkins killed seven of his children and a cousin before being fatally shot by police while fleeing. Two women survived gunshot wounds, and a 12-year-old escaped with multiple broken bones after jumping from a roof. Social media posts show one victim's mother had posted troubling messages about Elkins years earlier, and local groups have launched a GoFundMe to support the families.
Louisiana Massacre: Mother Of One Victim Posted Ominous Warning About Shooter Years Before Attack
Shamar Elkins with his children.Credit: Shamar Elkins/Facebook
On April 19 in Shreveport, Louisiana, eight children between the ages of 3 and 11 were killed in a devastating shooting at a residence, the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office confirmed. The victims have been identified 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).
Authorities say the shooter, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, fatally shot the children and later carjacked a vehicle while fleeing. Police officers pursuing the suspect shot and killed him, the Shreveport Police Department said.
Survivors and Injuries
Two adult women were wounded in the attack and survived; officials told NBC News that one was Elkins' wife and the other was his girlfriend. A 12-year-old girl escaped by jumping from the roof and sustained multiple broken bones, police reported.
Family Background And Social Media Posts
Social media posts indicate that Sariahh Snow's mother, who appears on Facebook as Christina Luvynhymdearly Snow, was previously married to Shamar Elkins. Christina shared photos and posts from 2015–2016 that show both happier moments and signs of turmoil in the relationship. In a December 2016 post she wrote that she "wish[ed] I never met" him; other posts around New Year's Eve 2015 alternated between expressions of feeling loved and posts saying she felt hurt and unable to move on.
It is not publicly known when Christina and Shamar separated or whether she was the mother of any of the other victims. An undated family photo shared with local media shows the three Snow children together in Halloween costumes.
Extended Family And Community Response
Shamar Elkins.Credit: Shreveport Police Department/Facebook
Seven of the eight victims were reported to be Shamar Elkins' children; the eighth, Markaydon Pugh, was a cousin, relatives said. Markaydon's father, Troy Brown, posted on Facebook: "I love u Mar'Kaydon nothing will ever change that. This hurts so bad, pls pray for me and Keosha Pugh on the loss of our only son and our nieces and nephews."
A local outreach group, Be The Village, launched a GoFundMe to assist families with funeral and memorial costs and to cover medical expenses for the surviving women. Organizers described the fundraiser as an effort to show community support during a time of crisis.
Investigation And Context
Police have not announced an official motive. Authorities previously characterized the attack as domestic in nature. The New York Times reported that family members said Shamar had told relatives a week before the killings that he was having "dark thoughts" as his wife sought a divorce; when his stepfather told him he would get past it, Shamar reportedly said, "Some people don't come back from their demons."
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said he had "never encountered anything of this magnitude" in his nearly 50-year career.
Support And Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233 or at thehotline.org; calls are toll-free, confidential, available 24/7 and offered in more than 170 languages.
The investigation remains active as family members, local groups and authorities continue to respond and provide support to the grieving community.
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