Shamar Elkins: The Shreveport Gunman Who Killed 8 Children in America’s Deadliest Mass Shooting Since 2024
Shamar Elkins is the name behind the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years. On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the 31-year-old Louisiana father shot and killed eight children—seven of whom were his own offspring—across multiple homes in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood before carjacking a vehicle, leading police on a chase, and dying in a shootout with officers in neighboring Bossier City .
The massacre, which began as a domestic dispute around 5:00 a.m., has left a community shattered, a city reeling, and a nation confronting yet another horrific episode of familicide. The eight victims ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old. Two adult women, including Elkins’ estranged wife, were shot but survived .
This comprehensive report examines Shamar Elkins’ background, the events of April 19, 2026, the victims, and the broader context of domestic violence that enabled this tragedy.
The Shooting: April 19, 2026
A Morning of Horror
The massacre unfolded across four separate crime scenes in Shreveport and Bossier City, beginning around 5:00 a.m. on April 19, 2026 :
5:00 a.m. – Harrison Street: Elkins first shot a woman at a home on Harrison Street, critically injuring her. This woman was his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, with whom he was in the midst of a contentious separation .
5:00-6:00 a.m. – West 79th Street: Elkins then drove to the 300 block of West 79th Street, where he entered a second home and opened fire on eight children. Many appeared to have been shot in their sleep, with most suffering head wounds . A 13-year-old boy managed to escape by jumping from the roof, suffering broken bones but surviving .
~6:00 a.m. – Carjacking: After the shootings, Elkins carjacked a man at gunpoint near Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street .
Police Chase and Confrontation: Officers located the stolen vehicle and initiated a pursuit into Bossier City. The chase ended on Brompton Lane, where Elkins was shot and killed by police. He was armed with a “rifle-style pistol” when confronted .
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” said Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon .
The Victims: Eight Children, Ages 3 to 11
Names and Ages
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office identified the eight children killed by Shamar Elkins :
| Name | Age | Relationship to Elkins |
|---|---|---|
| Jayla Elkins | 3 | Daughter |
| Shayla Elkins | 5 | Daughter |
| Kayla Pugh | 6 | Daughter |
| Layla Pugh | 7 | Daughter |
| Markaydon Pugh | 10 | Son |
| Sariahh Snow | 11 | Daughter |
| Khedarrion Snow | 6 | Son |
| Braylon Snow | 5 | Son/Cousin |
Seven of the children were Elkins’ biological children. The eighth, Braylon Snow, was a cousin . The children were identified by their mothers, who survived the attack .
The Survivors
Two adult women were shot but survived:
- Shaneiqua Pugh: Elkins’ estranged wife, shot in the face. She underwent surgery and is expected to survive .
- Second woman: Also seriously injured, believed to be the mother of some of the other children .
A 13-year-old boy escaped by jumping from the roof and called for help, suffering broken bones but no gunshot wounds .
Who Was Shamar Elkins? The Man Behind the Massacre
Background and Military Service
Shamar D. Elkins was born in 1994 or 1995 and lived in Shreveport his entire life . He served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020, working as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist .
Key details from his military record:
- Never deployed: Despite seven years of service, Elkins was never sent overseas
- Rank: Left the Army as a private, the entry-level rank
- Discharge: August 2020, reason not publicly disclosed
Criminal History
Elkins had at least two prior convictions :
2016: Driving while intoxicated conviction .
2019: Illegal use of weapons. According to police reports, Elkins pulled a 9mm handgun and fired five rounds at a car after another person in the vehicle pointed a gun at him. The incident occurred less than 300 feet from Caddo Magnet High School while children were playing outside. Elkins pleaded guilty and received 18 months probation; a charge of carrying a firearm on school property was dismissed .
Shreveport Police stated they were not aware of any domestic violence complaints involving Elkins prior to April 19 .
The Marriage Breakdown
Shamar Elkins and his wife Shaneiqua Pugh were in the middle of a separation and due in court on Monday, April 20, 2026—one day after the shooting . They shared four children together, while Elkins had three other children with another woman who lived nearby .
His brother-in-law, Troy Brown, who lived with the couple, said Elkins had been distraught over the divorce: “After the first argument about the divorce, he acted like he was losing his mind. He was upset about it. I would talk to him and he would tell me, ‘Bro, I don’t want to lose my wife'” .
The Easter Sunday Warning
The most haunting detail of Shamar Elkins’ final days came on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026—exactly two weeks before the massacre. Elkins called his mother Mahelia and stepfather Marcus Jackson in Oklahoma City, sounding despondent and suicidal .
“He said through tears that he wanted to take his own life as he was inundated with ‘dark thoughts’ as his wife sought a divorce,” according to The New York Times .
Jackson recalled trying to comfort him: “I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it.’ Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons'” .
As the call ended, Elkins promised to tell his children their grandparents said “hello.” The sounds of children playing could be heard in the background .
The Domestic Violence Context
A Known Problem in Shreveport
The Shamar Elkins massacre has exposed Shreveport’s domestic violence crisis. City Councilman Grayson Boucher revealed that over 30% of the city’s crimes and murders are domestic-related—and that this single incident more than doubled the city’s homicide total for the year .
“We can have 100 new police cars. We can have a brand new, beautiful multimillion dollar police substation right up the road. But until we stop this violence, the cycle of violence, like I’ve said over and over again, we’re going to still be standing here, and it’s only going to get worse,” Boucher said .
Warning Signs Ignored
Louisiana State Senator Sam L. Jenkins, Jr. questioned whether the system failed to track Elkins adequately: “I’m very concerned that we are not, maybe keeping a closer track on people who have had some history of domestic violence, and offering them some kind of treatment. Maybe events like this would be less occurring if we began to make that an important part of the follow up” .
Jenkins noted that community members knew of Elkins and “felt like he had had some tendencies or some events that had happened before” .
Retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jason Pack described the shooting as following a “pathway to violence”—a gradual process where grievances fester until dehumanization eliminates moral barriers. “It did not go that morning. It went quietly, over time,” Pack said .
Official Reactions
Local Leaders
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux: “This is a tragic situation—maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had” .
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith: “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur” .
SPD Spokesperson Chris Bordelon: “It is a disgusting and evil scene” .
State and National Figures
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry: Posted on X that he and his wife were “heartbroken” over the “horrific” incident .
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.): “There are no words. My team is in touch with local law enforcement as more details emerge. We’re holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers” .
Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.): “There are no words” .
The Deadliest Mass Shooting Since 2024
Statistical Context
The Shamar Elkins massacre is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since a gunman killed eight people in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to the AP/USA Today/Northeastern University database .
According to the Gun Violence Archive, 2026 had already seen at least 114 mass shootings (defined as four or more victims shot, not including the shooter) before April 19 .
Familicide Pattern
The shooting fits a disturbing pattern of familicide—mass killings within families. The 2024 Joliet shootings, where a man killed eight relatives, occurred just two years earlier. The 2026 Pawtucket shooting, another domestic-related mass killing, happened two months prior .
These cases share common features: male perpetrators, relationship breakdowns, prior warning signs, and the targeting of family members.
Conclusion: When Demons Win
Shamar Elkins was a 31-year-old father of seven who served his country, worked at UPS, and appeared to neighbors and coworkers as a devoted dad . He was also a man with a criminal record, a failing marriage, and “dark thoughts” that he shared with his family two weeks before destroying everything.
His stepfather’s words—”Some people don’t come back from their demons”—now read as prophecy. The demons won on April 19, 2026, taking eight children, two wounded women, and ultimately Elkins himself.
For Shreveport, the healing will take years. For the families of Jayla, Shayla, Kayla, Layla, Markaydon, Sariahh, Khedarrion, and Braylon, the healing may never come.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
