Shreveport shooting investigation: what police say happened
The attack began before sunrise when Elkins shot a woman at one home, police said. He then went to a second residence, where seven children were found dead inside and one child was found dead on the roof after apparently trying to escape. Another child jumped from the roof and was expected to survive after being taken to a hospital.
Ten people were struck by gunfire, and two adult women were treated for serious gunshot wounds, CBS News reported, citing Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Police said Elkins fled, carjacked a vehicle and was pursued into Bossier Parish, where officers fired on him and he died.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office identified the children as 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. Local reporting said the victims were seven siblings and a cousin.
Louisiana State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting that ended the pursuit, and Shreveport officials said more domestic violence intervention resources are needed after the killings. Reuters reported that Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn is establishing a comprehensive domestic violence center, with support from the mayor’s office.
Context before the Shreveport shooting
The killings came after months of warnings about domestic violence in Shreveport. In August 2025, KSLA reported that the Shreveport Police Department held a domestic violence forum after police said domestic violence-related homicides had nearly doubled and domestic violence calls had risen 11% from the previous year.
By November 2025, a KSLA review of Shreveport crime statistics found that murders and shootings were down compared with recent years, but domestic violence crimes had risen. In January 2026, another KSLA report said Shreveport police responded to nearly 2,900 domestic violence calls in 2025, about a 10% increase from 2024.
Those earlier reports do not suggest Sunday’s attack could have been predicted, but they show that local agencies and advocates had already been tracking domestic violence as a growing public safety concern. After the Shreveport shooting, the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office said domestic violence is “not a private matter” and urged residents to seek help, report warning signs and connect victims with support services.
Community grief and calls for support
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the killings one of the worst tragedies the city has faced. Police Chief Wayne Smith said investigators would review evidence from every scene to determine what led to the attack, while community members gathered for vigils and left flowers near the home where the children were killed.
Officials said the investigation remains active, including the events at both homes, the carjacking and the pursuit into Bossier Parish. Authorities had not released a final motive beyond describing the case as domestic-related.
Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support 24/7 at 800-799-7233, by texting START to 88788, or through online chat.
