2026 Shreveport shooting

According to the nonprofit organization Gun Violence Archive, there were six incidents of mass murder in the United States in 2026 before the Shreveport shooting. This incident is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024, Boucher said there was "a true epidemic of domestic violence" across Shreveport. In March 2026, the Shreveport City Council voted to withdraw from a partnership with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to operate a domestic violence resource center at a new police substation. Shreveport's mayor said his office was working to support a comprehensive domestic violence center. Elkins and Shaneiqua Pugh married in 2024. Elkins had previously been married to Christina Snow. ==Shooting==

The attack began at a home on Harrison Street at around 5:55 a.m., where Elkins' ex-wife Christina Snow was shot nine times and critically injured; Snow said the gunman had taken her three children and fled. The gunman then drove to the 300 block of West 79th Street, where eight children were killed. It is believed that when the gunman entered the home, all the children in the house were asleep. At the West 79th Street house, Elkins' wife Shaneiqua Pugh was shot, but was not killed. Keosha Pugh, the sister of Shaneiqua, was also living in the house with her 12-year-old daughter; both were injured while escaping by jumping from the roof. A small-caliber handgun was used in some of the shootings. where Elkins died from a gunshot. There are conflicting reports or committed suicide. Elkins had a rifle-style pistol when police confronted him. ==Victims==

Five girls and three boys, ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old, were killed. Four people were left wounded. Two were shot: his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, who was the mother of four of his children; and Christina Snow, his ex-wife, and the mother of three of his children. Two were injured but not shot: Keosha Pugh, sister of Shaneiqua; and Keosha's 12-year-old daughter, who both jumped from the West 79th Street roof; the mother suffered broken bones but the daughter only had scratches. == Aftermath ==

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and his wife Sharon, announced that their foundation Love One Louisiana would cover the funeral expenses of all victims of the shooting. Kristi Gustavson, the CEO of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana announced two separate funds, one to help provide needs for survivors and another specialized in domestic violence protection. A prayer vigil was held on April 20, in honor of the victims and their families as well as the Cedar Grove community. The funeral service will take place on May 9 at Summer Grove Baptist Church. ==Perpetrator==

The perpetrator was identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins (December 7, 1994 – April 19, 2026), of Shreveport. A relative said Elkins and his wife were in the middle of separating and were due in court on April 20. Elkins' brother told reporters that Elkins had been distraught about his marriage breaking down, with Elkins telling him "Bro, I don’t want to lose my wife." Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard as a signal system and fire support specialist from 2013 to 2020. He was never deployed and left as a private. Elkins had a prior criminal conviction in Caddo District Court. In 2016, he was also convicted of driving while intoxicated. Walker stated that in February 2026, Elkins had attempted to kill himself. Afterward, Walker said Elkins took medicine and partook in counseling at a nearby Veterans Affairs hospital. According to a cousin of his brother-in-law, Elkins visited the hospital for a mental health evaluation and stayed for a week and a half before he was released. According to his biological mother Mahelia, he called her home on April 5, telling his stepfather that he was having "dark thoughts" including suicide, abruptly ending the call after stating "Some people don't come back from their demons." Shreveport police said they were not aware of prior domestic violence issues. ==Investigation==

Police indicated that the incident spanned four separate crime scenes. According to prosecutors, Ford initially denied having the gun, but later said he believed Elkins had stolen it from his truck. A court affidavit says Ford confronted Elkins, but "let it go" after Elkins became "offensive". Under Louisiana law, a person convicted of illegal use of a weapon is banned from having a gun for at least 10 years, so neither Elkins nor Ford should have been able to own a gun. Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents are investigating; the Federal Bureau of Investigations has offered help. ==Reactions==

Tom Arceneaux, the mayor of Shreveport, said at a news conference: "It's a terrible morning in Shreveport, and we all know my heart goes out to this entire community for the tragic event that has taken place this morning." He described the shooting as "a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we've had". Kathryn Spearman, an assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University who studies the intersection of domestic violence and child abuse, compared the family massacre with Justin Fairfax's murder of his wife and suicide four days earlier. Both perpetrators possessed a gun, were in the middle of contentious divorce proceedings, and expressed depressive thoughts to confidants. She said "Systems need to recognize these patterns as risk factors." ==See also==