Man who shot dead seven of his children in US identified

A man identified as Shamar Elkins, 31, fatally shot eight children—seven of whom were his own—in a domestic violence incident across three locations in Shreveport, Louisiana. The victims, aged between three and 11, included three boys and five girls. Two women, including the mother of some of the children, were seriously injured in the shootings. After fleeing the scene in a carjacked vehicle, Elkins was pursued by police and ultimately shot dead when he brandished a firearm. The massacre is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Police described the incident as a domestic disturbance and believe Elkins acted alone. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shootings, which spanned multiple residences. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office identified the children as Jayla Elkins, Shayla Elkins, Kayla Pugh, Layla Pugh, Markaydon Pugh, Sariahh Snow, Khedarrion Snow, and Braylon Snow. Elkins had a prior firearms-related arrest in 2019 but no known history of domestic violence. The two women injured were shot in the head, with one managing to alert a neighbor. Nine children were present at the second residence, with one surviving and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The tragedy has deeply affected the Shreveport community, with Mayor Tom Arceneaux condemning the violence and emphasizing the need to confront such evil acts with good. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and gun violence in the United States, particularly the vulnerability of children in such situations. Authorities continue to gather evidence and piece together the circumstances that led to this devastating event.