Neighbor recalls seeing Shamar Elkins running out of Shreveport home after killing 8 children

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA: Neighbours of the Shreveport mass shooting suspect, who killed 8 children in a horrific crime, leaving people shaken and unsettled, saw him “running out of the house” after committing murders. 

In the deadliest mass shooting in over two years, a 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, a former Army veteran, carried out a horrific crime across three properties in Shreveport's Cedar Grove neighborhood, killing eight children, including seven of his own. The incident occurred at 6 am Central time on Sunday, April 19.

Security camera captures Shamar Elkins fleeing

Liza Demming, who lives two houses down from where most of the victims were shot, said that her security camera captured the suspect leaving the house, and the sound of two shots was heard. “That’s pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving,” she said.

When Demming went out, she saw a covered body of a child on the house rooftop. She said that while she didn’t know the name of the man, he looked “like the dad that comes over” there. She added that the gunman was there with children a few days ago.

The owner of another home, where the shooting occurred, Pastor Marty T Johnson Sr of nearby St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, said that a man who worked for him had rented that place. He added he never had dealings with them, referring to the family.

“I don’t really know them, I really don’t,” he said. “I do plan on having a prayer vigil for the family, and anything I can do, with so many children, to help them bury the children, I’m going to do so.”

Police pursued Shamar Elkins as he carried out carjacking

The gunman was followed thereafter by police in a high-speed chase after carrying out a carjacking. Elkins then drove to a third location, where he was shot and killed by cops.

The state police said that no officers were harmed in the shooting that took place after police pursued the killer. The police have also urged people with photos, videos, or any other evidence of the incident to come forward and share it with the investigative team.  

A total of 10 people were shot in the mass shooting that occurred across three homes in the neighborhood. While eight children were killed, two women, including the mother of the children, sustained serious injuries. One woman was reportedly shot in the head.