Shamar ElkinsThe man identified as a mass shooting suspect in Louisiana shared a concerning message on social media days before he opened fire at multiple locations in Shreveport on Sunday. Former Caddo Parish police officer Patrick Young confirmed his identity to the Daily Mail. However, no official statement has been made yet.
Elkins killed eight children and wounded several others in what police said appeared to be a domestic violence incident. Police said the incident occurred just after 6:00 a.m. local time. Officials said the gunman was shot after a car chase and interaction with police.
Mayor Tom Arseno told CNN it was unclear whether the attacker died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or police fire. No troopers were injured in the incident, according to state police.
Police Corporal Chris Bordelon told a news conference that there was a “pretty extensive crime scene” spanning three homes, which investigators were searching for evidence. Bordelon added that the deceased ranged in age from 1 to 14 years old.
“Some of the children inside are his descendants,” he noted.
“We do believe he was the only person who fired shots at these locations,” said Bordelon, who called the incident a “domestic disturbance.”
Related posts by Shamar Elkins
Just weeks before the shooting, Elkins shared some concerning news on Facebook. On March 12, he wrote: “Understanding is misunderstood.” He also retweeted a sentence on social media that seemed to hint at marital problems.
“Dads, if you could go back in time and have children with a different woman but still have the same children, would you do it?” the post read.
Officials describe victim and suspect link
Mayor Tom Arsenault revealed that the gunman had ties to two adult women who were also shot during the attack, but the exact nature of those relationships was unclear.
“The two women are in very, very critical condition, so we can’t get information from them,” he told CNN. Local reports said both women suffered gunshot wounds to the head.
Nine children were present at the second home targeted by the attack. Only one child survived, and that child remains in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Arseno.
‘A senseless tragedy’
The scale of the violence prompted reactions from top officials across the state and country. Mike Johnson, who represents the district, described the X attack as a “senseless tragedy.”
Bill Cassidy called it a “horribly violent” incident and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Jeff Landry said he was “heartbroken.”
In public remarks, Arceneaux summed up the grief felt across the city: “This is a terrible morning in Shreveport, and we all mourn with the victims,” he said at a news conference.
(Using AFP input)
