In the early morning hours of April 19, 2026, a horrific act of violence shattered the quiet of a Shreveport, Louisiana neighborhood, claiming the lives of eight children, including 6-year-old Kayla Pugh. The tragedy unfolded as a domestic dispute escalated to an unimaginable level. The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, carried out the attack across multiple homes.
Seven of the children killed were his own.
The young victims of the mass shooting were 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. Two women were also shot and critically wounded during the rampage, one of whom was the suspect's wife, Shaneiqua Pugh. One child managed to escape the home by jumping from the roof.
Following the shootings, Elkins fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, leading to a police chase. The pursuit ended when officers confronted and fatally shot him. Investigators have described the incident as a "tragic domestic violence incident." Family members revealed that Elkins had been struggling with his mental health and had expressed "dark thoughts" leading up to the shooting, particularly concerning his pending divorce.
In the aftermath, it was discovered that Elkins was federally prohibited from owning firearms due to a 2019 weapons conviction. The firearm used in the killings was reportedly stolen from an unlocked vehicle. A man was later federally charged in connection with the firearm, accused of lying about the weapon. The community of Shreveport was left to mourn the immense loss of eight young lives, a tragedy that has drawn national attention to the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the accessibility of firearms.
