Mason Thompson
Authorities have identified Shamar Elkins as the man from Louisiana who tragically took the lives of eight children on Sunday, April 19. Recent updates surrounding this heartbreaking incident indicate that seven of the victims were his own children. The horrifying attack unfolded across two residences in a neighborhood in Shreveport, Louisiana, causing widespread shock and grief.
This shooting represents the deadliest incident of its kind in the United States since January 2024, when eight individuals were killed in a suburb of Chicago, as documented by a collaborative database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in conjunction with Northeastern University.
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Details Emerge About Shamar Elkins’ Attack on His Family
The wife of Shamar Elkins, 34-year-old Shaneiqua Pugh, married him approximately two years ago, according to reports from CNN. Family members have confirmed that she is the mother of some of the children, with The Guardian reporting that she has four children with Elkins. The other woman shot during the attack is believed to be the mother of his three remaining children, as stated by TG.
Shaneiqua sustained “very serious injuries,” as noted by Shreveport police spokesman Chris Bordelon. Both women involved in this tragic event suffered critical injuries shortly after the incident began around 6 a.m. Sunday morning, according to the official statement from the Shreveport Police Department. The department expressed optimism regarding the recovery of both women.
Officials reported that the victims included three boys and five girls, ranging in age from just 3 to 11 years old. Some of the children attempted to flee through the back door during the chaos, based on statements from Representative Tammy Phelps. According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office and reported by CNN, the names and ages of the children are as follows:
- Jayla Elkins, 3
- Shayla Elkins, 5
- Kayla Pugh, 6
- Layla Pugh, 7
- Markaydon Pugh, 10
- Sariahh Snow, 11
- Khedarrion Snow, 6
- Braylon Snow, 5
In a desperate attempt to escape, another child aged 13 jumped from the roof of the house, suffering broken bones but is expected to survive. Following the shooting, Shamar Elkins fled from the scene, allegedly carjacked a vehicle, and was subsequently shot by officers during the pursuit. Authorities believe he acted alone during this tragic event.
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” expressed Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Horror of the Scene
According to officials, the horrifying attack commenced before dawn when Shamar Elkins shot a woman at one residence before moving to another home just a few blocks away, where he fatally shot the children. Among the deceased children was Elkins’ own nephew, as confirmed by the Caddo Parish coroner’s office.
Liza Demming, a resident two houses down from where the bulk of the shooting occurred, reported that her security camera recorded video of the suspected shooter, Elkins, fleeing the scene along with the sounds of gunfire. “That’s pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving,” she recounted. Afterward, Demming went outside and discovered the covered body of a child on the roof of the home. Representative Tammy Phelps also noted that some children attempted to escape through the back door during the incident.
“I can’t even imagine what the police officers and first responders faced when they arrived on the scene today,” Liza Demming stated.
Family Members Disclose Marital Struggles Leading Up to the Tragedy
As the investigation continues, the motive behind this tragic event remains unclear. A cousin of one of the injured women revealed that Elkins and his wife were in the process of separating and were scheduled to appear in court the following Monday. Crystal Brown, the cousin, stated that the couple had been in heated discussions over their separation prior to the shooting. “He murdered his children,” she lamented.
In an interview with The New York Times, Elkins’ stepfather, Marcus Jackson, mentioned that Elkins was experiencing “dark thoughts” following his wife’s request for a divorce. Jackson stated he had encouraged Elkins to overcome his struggles, but Elkins’ demeanor suggested a lack of hope.
“Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons,’” Jackson recalled.
Elkins’ mother, Mahelia Elkins, indicated she was unaware of the marital issues her son was facing. However, she mentioned that he had called her and Jackson on April 5, expressing a tearful desire to end his life. Although she reached out to him two weeks ago, he replied, “Everyone is doing OK.” When she inquired about the children just days before the tragedy, Shamar allegedly did not respond.
Criminal History of the Louisiana Shooter Uncovered
Currently, investigators have not identified any prior domestic violence complaints against Shamar Elkins, according to Chris Bordelon, spokesman for the Shreveport police. Elkins has two previous criminal convictions in Caddo District Court: a DUI in 2016 and a conviction for illegal use of weapons in March 2019. He ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. A police report indicated that Shamar Elkins claimed that an individual in a vehicle had pointed a gun at him, prompting him to fire five rounds at the vehicle. This incident occurred near a schoolyard where children were playing.
Brown, the cousin of one of the women shot, recounted that she was at church on Sunday morning when the pastor informed the congregation about the tragic shooting that had unfolded. She described the children as joyful and friendly individuals.
“They worked, came home, and kept to themselves,” she reflected. “Just an everyday family.”
In the wake of this tragedy, mourners laid flowers outside the single-story residence located on 79th Street, while others lit candles in honor of the victims at a nearby shopping plaza.
Associated Press writers Sophie Bates, Lekan Oyekanmi, Gerald Herbert, John Seewer, Jake Offenhartz, Jeff Martin, Steve Karnowski, Terry Tang, and Christopher Weber contributed to this report via the AP Newsroom.
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