‘Don’t come back from their demons’: Louisiana father just went on a rampage, taking down his wife, girlfriend, and eight children

The investigation into a horrific domestic violence incident in Shreveport, Louisiana, continues after Shamar Elkins, a 31-year-old Louisiana State Guard veteran, murdered eight children and wounded two women early Sunday morning. The tragedy unfolded across two separate locations in a neighborhood south of downtown, leaving the community in shock. Per Politico, this event stands as one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in over two years.

Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon described the scene as “disgusting and evil.” According to the police, the violence began before sunrise when Elkins attacked a woman at one residence. He then traveled to a second location, where he carried out the killings of the children. 

Seven of the children were found deceased inside the home, while an eighth child was discovered on the roof, having apparently been killed while attempting to escape. A 13-year-old child managed to survive the attack, escaping the home with broken bones after jumping from the roof.

That is horrifying

The victims have been identified 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. Seven of these children were the biological offspring of Elkins, while the eighth was their cousin. Most of the victims appeared to have been shot in the head while they were sleeping, according to authorities.

Chilling 911 dispatcher audio from early Sunday morning captured the moment police first learned of the severity of the situation. Per the NY Post, a dispatcher noted that a female victim with a gunshot wound to the face had alerted authorities that the assailant had left the scene. 

The dispatcher relayed that the woman indicated there were nine subjects living in the residence and that the suspect might have shot them all. Elkins was later shot and killed by police in neighboring Bossier City following a police chase and an attempted carjacking.

Family members and officials suggest the violence was rooted in a domestic dispute. Crystal Brown, a relative of one of the wounded women, stated that Elkins and his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, were in the middle of separation proceedings and were due in court on Monday. Elkins shared four children with his wife and three with the other wounded woman. Both women were transported to the hospital in critical condition.

In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Elkins had reportedly expressed distress to his family. His mother, Mahelia Elkins, and stepfather, Marcus Jackson, told reporters that Elkins called them on Easter Sunday to say he was drowning in dark thoughts and that his wife wanted a divorce. The NY Post reported that when Jackson attempted to offer encouragement, Elkins chillingly replied that some people “do not come back from their demons.”

Elkins worked at UPS and served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020 as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist. A co-worker described him as a devoted father who often appeared stressed. Public records indicate that Elkins had prior legal trouble, including a 2016 conviction for driving while intoxicated and a 2019 arrest for illegal use of weapons, firing at a driver who brandished a weapon at him.

Neighbors and local officials are reeling from the scale of the violence. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith expressed his disbelief at the occurrence, “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”

State Representative Tammy Phelps noted the difficulty of the situation for first responders, while Mayor Tom Arceneaux said, “This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.” 

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson have both issued statements expressing their heartbreak and offering prayers for the community, with Johnson saying: “We’re holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

We have seen a few deadly shootings recently. There was the shooting outside Buford’s bar in Austin. Last week, we saw the absolutely insane shooting at the Chick-fil-A in New Jersey that is still under investigation. None of them, however, hit as hard as this. All I can say is that my heart goes out to this family.