A shocking mass shooting occurred in the U.S. when a man killed eight children, seven of whom were his own. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the country since early 2024.
Shreveport police revealed the shooter is Shamar Elkins. The incident happened Sunday morning local time. The children who died were aged between 1 and 12 years, though earlier reports suggested some victims might have been up to 14. A 13-year-old boy survived but suffered a broken bone after attempting to escape by jumping off the roof.
Police stated the shooter began by shooting his wife, the mother of the children, leaving her critically injured. He then went to another house and shot eight children, including a woman who was the mother of the eighth child; she remains in critical condition.
After the shootings, the perpetrator fled, carjacked a vehicle, and drove across jurisdictional lines before being fatally shot by police during the pursuit. Louisiana authorities are currently investigating the case.
Records show Elkins was arrested in 2019 on a firearms-related charge and served seven years in the Louisiana National Guard until 2020.
The mayor of Shreveport described the event as the worst tragedy ever to hit the city, severely impacting the community's mental health. Local officials and community leaders are calling for mental health support for the victims’ families and the wider community.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 114 mass shootings in the U.S. since the start of this year. A mass shooting is defined as an incident where four or more people are shot (excluding the shooter). This is the deadliest mass shooting nationwide since early 2024.
Source: AP
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