Louisiana dad Shamar Elkins made chilling remarks about ‘demons’ weeks before killing 8 children
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA: Shamar Elkins, the 31-year-old Army veteran who killed eight children in Shreveport, confessed to his family just weeks before the incident that he was drowning in “dark thoughts.”
He told his stepfather that his marriage was ending and remarked that “some people don’t come back from their demons.”
Elkins confessed 'dark thoughts' before deadly attack
The New York Times reported that Elkins reached out to his mother and stepfather on Easter Sunday to confess his emotional distress. During the call, he admitted that he wanted to end his life and mentioned that his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, wanted a divorce.
His stepfather, Marcus Jackson, tried to offer support and encourage him to stay strong. Jackson told the publication, “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," the stepfather said. Reportedly, the violence broke out around 6 am on Sunday, April 19, following a heated argument between Elkins and his wife over their relationship ending.
According to reports, the couple was in the middle of separation proceedings and had a court date scheduled for April 20.
During the dispute, Elkins opened fire, shooting his wife in the face before turning his weapon on the children. Most of the victims were shot in the head while they were asleep, though police noted that one child was killed on the roof while trying to run away from the gunman.
Police in Shreveport, Louisiana say 8 children were killed in a domestic shooting. The suspect was also killed by responding officers. pic.twitter.com/WuaGGOf3mq
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 19, 2026
Elkins background reveals stress, past gun incident
Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard for seven years as a specialist.
While a coworker at UPS thought he was a dedicated father, they noticed he was often so stressed that he would pull his hair out.
His past included a 2019 incident in which he fired a gun five times during a traffic dispute, with a bullet landing near a school.
His mother shared that she had been absent for much of his childhood due to an addiction, leaving him to be raised by a family friend, Betty Walker.
NEW: Shreveport, Louisiana police have identified Shamar Elkins as the suspect in a domestic shooting that left eight children dead, including a 1-year-old, with seven believed to be his own.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 20, 2026
Two adults and a teen were also shot, and Elkins was later killed by law enforcement… pic.twitter.com/9GaUtyf7aZ
Betty Walker saw the family for dinner just a week before the massacre and said Elkins did not appear off at the time.
She was devastated when she received the news the following Sunday morning. Walker expressed her heartbreak over the loss of the children, saying, “My babies, my babies are gone.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
