A father murdered eight children, including seven of his own, and shot two women in a Shreveport, Louisiana neighborhood early Sunday morning in what authorities are calling the nation’s deadliest shooting in over two years. The attack shocked the community and left officials struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy.

The Attack Unfolds Across Two Homes

Shamar Elkins, 31, began his rampage at one home where he shot a woman before driving to a second location in the neighborhood south of downtown Shreveport. Police found seven children dead inside the second house, with victims ranging from 3 to 11 years old—three boys and five girls. One child was discovered dead on the roof after attempting to escape, while another child survived by jumping from the roof and was transported to a hospital. Some children tried to flee through the back door but could not escape the violence.

Custody Battle Turned Deadly

Elkins and his wife were in the midst of separating and were scheduled to appear in court Monday, according to family members. The couple had been arguing about the separation before the shooting occurred. Elkins had four children with his wife and three children with another woman who also lived nearby and was shot during the attack. All seven of his children were together at one house when he carried out the killings. Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon confirmed detectives believe this was entirely a domestic incident, though Elkins had been arrested in a 2019 firearms case.

Police Pursuit Ends in Officer-Involved Shooting

Following the murders, Elkins fled the scene, leading police on a pursuit that ended with officers opening fire on him. He died at the scene. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith expressed his disbelief at the press conference, stating his heart was taken aback by the tragedy. Mayor Tom Arceneaux called it possibly the worst tragic situation the city of 180,000 residents has ever experienced. Mourners laid flowers outside the single-story house on 79th Street, and community members held an evening prayer vigil in a nearby parking lot.

A Community in Mourning

State Representative Tammy Phelps said she could not imagine what first responders dealt with when they arrived at the scene. Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the women who were shot, described all the children as happy, friendly, and sweet kids. The shooting marks the deadliest incident in the United States since January 2024, when eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The tragedy has left Shreveport reeling, with residents like Kimberlin Jackson saying it makes you want to hug your children and tell them how much you love them.