8 Shreveport children killed, suspect dead in what police say was a domestic dispute

Eight children were killed, and the suspect is dead following a mass shooting Sunday morning that Shreveport police are describing as a domestic disturbance, KSLA-TV and KTBS-TV report. Two adult women and another teen were also injured in the incident that took place at two separate residences.

The victims who died range in age from 18 months to approximately 14 years old, according to Shreveport Police Department Cpl. Chris Bordelon. The eight child appeared to have tried escaping by jumping off a roof on the back of the house, he said.

The shootings occurred at two separate addresses about a quarter-mile apart in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood, within 100 yards of the Caddo Magnet High School property.

Shreveport police pursued the suspect, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, who reportedly carjacked the vehicle he used in his attempt to escape. He led police on a chase into Bossier City, where Bordelon said officers fired their weapons at Elkins. It was not immediately clear whether police killed Elkins or he took his own life.

Elkins is related to some of the children who were killed and was in a relationship with one of the survivors, according to police.

Louisiana State Police will conduct an investigation of the shooting involving the Shreveport Police and Elkins.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called Sunday morning’s events “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.”

This is the fifth mass shooting in Louisiana this year and one of 114 nationwide, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It counts a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are killed or injured. Mass shootings have killed 10 people and injured 17 more in Louisiana.

This is a developing story.

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