**Excerpt:** A father in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been identified as the shooter in a mass shooting that left seven of his children dead and one other victim.
Key Points:
– Shamar Elkins, the suspected shooter, killed seven of his children and one cousin.
– Witnesses described the event as a “full-blown shootout” with police.
– The shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute, with victims targeted as they tried to escape.
– Community members expressed shock, noting the suspect’s previously friendly demeanor.
– Police reported that the shooting is the deadliest in the U.S. in over two years.
Details of the Incident
Neighbors in Shreveport, Louisiana, are recounting the chaos that unfolded early Sunday when Shamar Elkins allegedly shot and killed seven of his children and one of their cousins. The shooting occurred after an argument with his wife, which escalated into a domestic dispute.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, initially mistaking them for firecrackers. Tiffany Castleman described the moment: “I knew that there was a full-blown shootout.” Her husband, Jacob, shared his disbelief, stating, “I was just in total shock… it was just chaos.”
Another neighbor, Liza Demming, captured moments of the shooting on her security camera, noting the gunman fleeing the scene. She later witnessed the aftermath, including the tragic sight of a child’s body covered on the roof of the residence.
Community Reaction
Local residents expressed their shock over the incident. Lashuan Berry, who knew the family, described Elkins as having “no soul,” while others, like Fred Montgomery, noted that he had not observed any signs of trouble before the shooting.
A friend of a relative of one of the victims commented on the unexpected nature of the shooting, saying, “We do not know what triggered him.”
Police Investigation
Authorities reported that Elkins shot a woman, believed to be his wife, in the face during the initial domestic dispute. He then went on to target the eight victims in what police described as an “execution-style” shooting.
The coroner identified the victims as:
– Jayla Elkins, 3
– Shayla Elkins, 5
– Kayla Pugh, 6
– Layla Pugh, 7
– Markaydon Pugh, 10
– Sariahh Snow, 11
– Khedarrion Snow, 6
– Braylon Snow, 5
This tragic event marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in over two years.
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