Noir Nation, heartbreaking new details have been confirmed in the Shreveport, Louisiana mass shooting that left eight children dead in what authorities are calling a domestic violence tragedy!

The incident unfolded early morning around 6 AM on April 19, 2026, across multiple homes in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, where police say a violent domestic dispute escalated into one of the most devastating cases the city has ever seen.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, who investigators say was the father of several of the victims. Officials confirmed that seven of the children killed were his own, with one additional child believed to be a cousin.

Background Details Released

Investigators and official records have also confirmed that Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013 to 2020, working as a signal system specialist and fire support specialist. According to an Army official, he was never deployed. At the time of the shooting, he was employed by United Parcel Service (UPS), which has also confirmed his employment. Court documents additionally show Elkins previously pleaded guilty to illegal use of weapons and received probation.

Family Accounts and Mental Health Concerns

In interviews with USA TODAY and other outlets, family members described Elkins as struggling emotionally in the days leading up to the shooting. Relatives say he was experiencing “dark thoughts” following a pending divorce.

Elkins’ stepfather told reporters that during a call on Easter Sunday, Elkins mentioned his wife wanted a divorce and expressed distress, including statements about struggling with internal demons.

“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” he said. “Then I remember him telling me, ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”

Close relatives told officials that Elkins had undergone a suicide attempt back in February. He was hospitalized and later released even though his family said he continued to show signs of needing help, Elkins kept saying he was fine and that he just needed to push through.

Court records confirm Elkins married Shaneiqua Pugh in April 2024 but were together over a decade. The couple was reportedly in the process of separating at the time of the shooting. It has been indicated that Shanequa filed for divorce following claims of infidelity. Family members told multiple outlets the pair had a court date scheduled for April 20, 2026, just one day after the tragedy unfolded, reports CNN.

 A family member told The New York Times, Shaneiqua had considered leaving Elkins before they were married,

He had told Shaneiqua he would kill her, their kids and himself if she did.

Victims Identified (Children Killed)

• Jayla Elkins, 3
• Shayla Elkins, 5
• Kayla Pugh, 6
• Layla Pugh, 7
• Markaydon Pugh, 10
• Sariahh Snow, 11
• Khedarrion Snow, 6
• Braylon Snow, 5

In total, eight children were killed across both homes, while two women—including Elkins’ wife—were seriously injured. One child survived after escaping the chaos by jumping from a roof during the attack.

“I really can’t believe it,” Francine Monro Brown, a cousin of Elkins’ wife, told USA TODAY. “

Two adult women, identified as Shaneiqua and his girlfriend Christina who he also shared children with were critically injured during the incident and were transported to a nearby hospital. The two women lived a block away from one another. Their conditions have not yet been publicly updated.

According to Berry, Christina Snow’s aunt, her niece lives a block away from Elkins and his wife.

“He went over, knocked on her door and he shot her,” she said. “She was able to have Siri call 911 for her.”

Following the shootings, Elkins fled the scene and stole a vehicle at gunpoint, prompting a regional law enforcement alert. Officers located the vehicle shortly after in Bossier City, leading to a high-speed pursuit.

The chase ended when police attempted to stop the vehicle, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between Elkins and responding officers. Elkins was later found dead at the scene. Officials have not yet confirmed whether he was killed by police gunfire or died from a self-inflicted wound, and that determination remains under investigation.

Authorities confirmed that no children were inside the stolen vehicle when it was recovered.

Vigils are now being held across the city as residents mourn the loss of eight young lives.

“Yesterday there was tragedy just 100 feet away, and today there are so many people that have come out to pray and share their feelings with family,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said, reported the Shreveport Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Noir Nation, this story remains under active investigation.