Louisiana killer dad Shamar Elkins had ‘dark thoughts’ before killing 8 children
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA: An Army veteran accused of killing eight children inside a family home was expected in divorce court a day after the massacre, as chilling details about his mental state and troubled marriage emerged.
Authorities said Shamar Elkins, 31, fatally shot seven of his own children and one of their cousins on April 19 inside a residence in Shreveport. The attack followed a call he made earlier that day to family members, during which he spoke of having “dark thoughts” after learning his wife had filed for divorce, according to The New York Times.
Ongoing divorce battle
Elkins was set to face his estranged wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, in court on April 20, just hours after the killings. On April 19, he called his mother, Mahelia Elkins, and stepfather, Marcus Jackson, to discuss the divorce filing.
Jackson said he urged Elkins to stay strong amid personal struggles. Elkins replied grimly, “Some people don’t come back from their demons,” Jackson recalled to The New York Times.
Police said the violence began as a domestic disturbance inside the home, where all eight children were later found dead.
Shooting leaves two injured
After killing the children, Elkins shot Pugh multiple times in the head and stomach, leaving her hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. A second woman, identified by family as Christina Snow, was also shot in the head and critically wounded, according to KSLA.
Authorities said seven of the victims were Elkins’ children, while the eighth was their cousin. The victims were 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.
Troubled past surfaces
Records show Elkins had prior convictions, including driving while intoxicated in 2016 and illegal use of weapons in 2019, according to The New York Times. In the 2019 case, he fired a handgun at a vehicle during an altercation, with one bullet later found near a school where children were playing.
He had also posted about mental health struggles and relationship issues on social media in the weeks leading up to the incident. On April 9, he wrote, “Dear God, Today I ask You to help me guard my mind and my emotions. When negativity arises, remind me to say, ‘It does not belong to me,’ in the name of Jesus.”
A month earlier, he posted, “Dads, if you could go back in time and have kids with a different woman but still have the same kids, would you do it?”
Law enforcement officials said the investigation into the motive and sequence of events is ongoing. Authorities have not yet clarified which of the children was the cousin, and further details are expected as the case develops.
