A quiet Louisiana neighborhood is in shock after a tragic shooting in Shreveport on April 19, 2026, that left eight children dead and two others injured. Authorities say the incident appears to have involved someone inside the home.
As officials begin piecing together what happened, a nearby resident described the scene as sudden and chaotic. In the days leading up to the tragedy, social media posts from the children’s parents are also being reviewed for possible context surrounding the events.
Family members gathered outside a home in Shreveport following a fatal shooting on April 19, 2026. | Source: Getty Images
A timeline of violence is emerging after a shooting in Shreveport prompted a police response to reports of multiple victims, according to NBC News. Investigators say the suspect opened fire on 10 people, killing eight children and injuring two women.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Shamar Elkins, the father of the children. Seven of the victims were found inside the home, while the eighth was discovered on the back roof as the investigation continues to unfold.
The children were later 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), according to The New York Post.
Two women were also injured in the shooting, including Shamar Elkins’ wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, who was struck in the face but survived, as well as another woman believed to be his girlfriend.
Authorities also reported that a teenager was hurt after falling from the roof, though they were not shot.
As the investigation continues, officials say the motive behind the incident is still unknown.
According to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon, investigators believe the incident was domestic in nature. He stated that the suspect’s wife was involved and is the mother of at least seven of the children, while the eighth victim was described as a family friend.
Authorities also reported that a small-caliber handgun was used during part of the attack, and that Shamar Elkins was carrying a rifle-style pistol when officers encountered him.
Police later engaged and fatally shot the suspect, ending the immediate threat at the scene.
Authorities also reported that many of the children were found having been shot while they were asleep, with most of the victims suffering gunshot wounds to the head.
As investigators continued to piece together the case, attention began to shift toward examining Shamar Elkins’ life and circumstances in the days leading up to the shooting.
A look at Shamar Elkins’ Facebook activity shows he was still posting in the days leading up to the shooting, often sharing moments involving his children, despite limited personal details on his profile beyond basic information.
On April 18, just days before the incident, he posted a photo of his eldest child sitting in the front seat of a car, eating a burger during what he described as a one-on-one outing.
Back on April 6, he shared a photo of himself standing outside a home with several children, dressed for Easter, and gathered closely together.
Earlier posts took on a more introspective tone.
In an April 9 post, he shared a long prayer focused on seeking strength, peace, and protection. In another message from March 12, he wrote, “Understand to be misunderstood.”
Earlier, on February 13, he also posted a photo of several children sitting on the floor inside a home, gathered around large trays of food during a casual shared meal
Her profile showed she lived in Shreveport, Louisiana, noted that she and her husband had been married since April 9, 2024, and indicated that she attended Independence University.
The page also featured a blend of personal information and shared posts, including a pinned message highlighting her emphasis on faith and prayer.
More recent activity on her account included reposted content, such as a message referencing her zodiac sign, Aries, along with shared videos. Her profile appeared to feature frequent engagement through brief captions and reposts rather than detailed personal updates.
Together, their online activity offered a glimpse into their lives in the days before the incident, though for those in the community, events ultimately unfolded in a far more tragic and unexpected way.
A nearby resident described the moment the violence broke out, telling KSLA 12 News that he was overwhelmed with confusion and shock as events rapidly escalated.
Jacob Castleman recalled, “My thought process was like, man, there’s no way that that just happened behind our house. You know, I was just in total shock. I was just like, oh my God, dude. Like, it was just chaos. I mean, honestly, it was just nothing like I’ve ever experienced.”
Community members gather outside a home following a shooting that left eight children dead in Shreveport on April 19, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
Jacob said he was awakened by his wife, who told him she had heard sirens and what sounded like a gunshot.
“And then I set up and we heard another gunshot. And I was like, all right, that’s pretty close. So as I got up, we heard several more fires. And then I went and grabbed my firearm and checked out the back because that’s where I thought everything was coming from,” he recalled.
People lit candles at a vigil in Shreveport, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
Authorities have not yet determined what led to the shooting and are still working to reconstruct the full sequence of events.
In the aftermath, the deaths of eight young children have deeply shaken the community, leaving residents grieving and still seeking answers about how the tragedy unfolded.