Authorities are currently reconstructing the final hours leading up to a deadly shooting in Shreveport, where new information about Shamar Elkins’ last contact with his estranged wife is now under review.
Investigators believe that this final exchange may be important to understanding what led to the violence that followed. The case, which unfolded on April 19, 2026, spans multiple locations and resulted in several fatalities, including eight children, according to officials. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full sequence of events.
People embrace outside a home on April 20, 2026, a day after the deadly shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana | Source: Getty Images
CBC News reports that Shamar Elkins and his wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, were in the midst of a separation and were scheduled to appear in court the following Monday. According to Crystal Brown, a relative of one of the victims, tensions between the couple had been building in the days leading up to the incident.
Crystal stated that the pair had been arguing over the separation during one of their last known interactions before the tragedy. She also alleged that Shamar Elkins was responsible for shooting his wife and children.
A woman was seen being comforted as she grieved the loss of family members following the shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
A relative also told CBC that Shamar Elkins had children with his wife as well as another woman who lived nearby. Reports indicate that all of the children were at one residence when the violence began.
She described the children as “happy, very friendly, very sweet,” while witness accounts later helped piece together what happened in the aftermath of the shooting.
Authorities are investigating the fatal Shreveport shooting and focusing on Shamar Elkins’ last known interactions with his estranged wife, which may help clarify what led to the violence.
According to reports, Shamar Elkins and his wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, were in the middle of a separation and were scheduled to appear in court on Monday. A relative said tensions between them had been rising, with ongoing arguments about the breakup.
That same relative also claimed Shamar had children with both his wife and another woman living nearby, and that all the children were present in one home when the incident occurred. The children were described as joyful and friendly.
A neighbor, Liza Demming, said her security camera recorded the suspect fleeing after gunshots were heard, and she later saw a covered child’s body outside the residence.
As investigators continue reconstructing the timeline, more details are emerging about the days leading up to the tragedy.
Tributes were left outside a Shreveport, Louisiana home following the deadly shooting, as the investigation continued to draw attention to the events leading up to the tragedy.
What her final posts revealed
In the days before the incident, Shaneiqua reportedly shared a Facebook post hinting at emotional distance and the deterioration of her relationship, suggesting that her feelings had shifted and the bond between them had weakened over time.
The post reflected a relationship in decline—strikingly different from earlier moments she had shared publicly, and now viewed as part of a broader timeline investigators are examining.
About a year before the tragedy, she had shared a heartfelt anniversary post about Shamar on Facebook, expressing gratitude, affection, and celebrating their relationship and children. The message reflected a loving partnership, contrasting sharply with later signs of strain.
The timing has since drawn scrutiny, coming just days before what would have been their second anniversary when the violence occurred.
As investigators continue to uncover details, attention is also shifting toward the survivors and those affected by the incident.
What We Know About the Survivors
According to KSLA News 12, two women were injured in the shooting, including Shamar’s wife. She was reportedly struck in the face, underwent surgery, and is expected to survive.
A second woman, believed to be the mother of some of the children involved, remains in critical condition, the report stated.
Authorities are also continuing to piece together a detailed timeline of how the violence unfolded.
How the Morning Escalated
According to CNN, the first 911 call was made shortly before 6 a.m. from someone on the roof of a home on West 79th Street, reporting that a person inside had opened fire, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said.
A second call followed minutes later, identifying the shooter as a family member and reporting that several people inside had been shot. The caller also told dispatch that she and her children had climbed onto the roof to escape before fleeing to the backyard, Smith added.
Bullet holes are visible in the door of a home following the deadly shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana | Source: Getty Images
Police arrived at the scene at approximately 6:01 a.m., Chief Wayne Smith said. Soon after, a third emergency call came in from Harrison Street, where a woman reported that her boyfriend had shot her, taken her three children, and fled the area, identifying the suspect as Shamar.
Roughly 6:15 a.m., authorities say Shamar carjacked a vehicle and led police on a pursuit into nearby Bossier Parish. Shreveport Police Corporal Chris Bordelon stated that he was armed with a rifle during the incident.
Police officer Chris Bordelon addressed the media near the Shreveport shooting scene on April 19, 2026, where eight children were killed, according to Getty Images.
At approximately 6:29 a.m., officers shot Shamar, and he was later pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 7 a.m., Chief Wayne Smith said.
With multiple locations involved, police are still working to reconstruct the full sequence of events and understand what led to the shootings.
Family members gather outside a Shreveport home following a deadly shooting, April 19, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
More Details About the Crime
As previously reported, Shamar is accused of shooting 10 people in total, resulting in the deaths of eight children and injuries to two women. Authorities said seven of the children were found inside the home, while an eighth child was discovered on a rear roof.
Investigators continue to examine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
More Details About the Crime
As previously reported, Shamar is accused of shooting 10 people in total, resulting in the deaths of eight children and injuries to two women. Authorities said seven of the children were found inside the home, while an eighth child was discovered on a rear roof.
Investigators continue to examine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In addition to Shaneiqua and another woman believed to be Shamar’s girlfriend being shot, a teenager was also reportedly injured after falling from the roof, though not as a result of gunfire.
Authorities have since continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident as part of their ongoing investigation.
“We know it’s domestic in nature,” Police Corporal Christopher Bordelon said, adding that Shamar’s wife was involved and is the mother of at least seven of the children, with the eighth identified as a family friend.
Authorities also reported that a small-caliber handgun was used during part of the shooting. When officers later confronted Shamar, he was reportedly armed with a rifle-style pistol.
Investigators further stated that many of the children appeared to have been shot while asleep, with most suffering gunshot wounds to the head. As the investigation continues, attention has also turned to the family’s activity on social media in the days leading up to the tragedy.
Community members embrace while mourning victims of a Shreveport shooting, April 19, 2026 | Source: Getty Images
A Glimpse Into Their Facebook Activity
As previously reported, Shamar was active on Facebook and frequently shared posts featuring his children and aspects of their daily life. His profile contained limited personal details beyond basic information.
Just days before the incident, he posted a photo of his eldest child sitting in the front seat of a vehicle, eating a burger during what he described as a one-on-one outing.
On April 6, he posted a photo of himself outside a house with several children, all dressed for Easter and gathered closely together.
Earlier posts also showed a more reflective, inward-looking tone.
On April 9, he posted a long prayer about seeking strength, peace, and protection. Another post from March 12 simply read, “Understand to be misunderstood.”
Earlier, on February 13, he shared a photo of several children sitting together on a floor inside a home, eating from large shared trays during a casual meal.
Like Shamar, Shaneiqua also maintained an active presence on the same platform.
Her profile showed that she lived in Shreveport, Louisiana, and noted that she and her husband had been married since April 9, 2024. It also listed Independence University as her school.
The account included a combination of personal information and shared posts, such as a pinned message highlighting her focus on prayer and faith, along with newer content referencing her Aries zodiac sign and various shared videos.
Altogether, the activity painted a snapshot of their everyday life in the period leading up to the tragedy, before everything changed so suddenly.
A neighbor later recounted the chaotic scene to KSLA 12 News, describing disbelief and shock as events unfolded nearby.
“Honestly, my thought process was like, man, there’s no way that that just happened behind our house. I was in total shock. I was like, oh my God. It was chaos—nothing like I’ve ever experienced,” Jacob Castleman said.
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 first woke up after his wife heard sirens and possibly a gunshot nearby.
“Then I sat up and we heard another gunshot. I was like, alright, that’s pretty close. As I got up, we heard several more shots, so I grabbed my firearm and went to check the backyard because that’s where I thought everything was coming from,” he recalled.
Authorities say they are still working to understand the motive, focusing on the couple’s separation and reported disputes in the days leading up to the shooting. The timeline and witness statements are helping investigators reconstruct what happened.
For the Shreveport community, the aftermath has been devastating. Families are grieving, and many are still waiting for clear answers.