‘Unlike anything seen before:’ Police express shock over man killing his own children among 8
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA: After a 31-year-old former army veteran, Shamar Elkins, killed eight children, in the deadliest mass shooting in over two years in the US, the Louisiana police described the incident as anything they have ever seen before. Seven of the children killed were the suspect’s own
The incident took place early on Sunday, April 19, when Elkins knocked on three doors in the Cedar Grove area, shooting a total of 10 people, of whom eight children died.
Police say shooting was ‘unlike anything seen before’
Addressing a news conference outside the crime scene, the Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon said that authorities are still gathering details about the crime scene, which extended across three locations.
He added that the Shreveport mass shooting was like something they had never seen before.
"This is an extensive scene, unlike anything most of us have ever seen," Bordelon said.
Officials appeared stunned by the gravity of the crime, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they collected evidence from multiple crime scenes.
“I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It’s a terrible morning.”
One woman was shot in the head
The gunman, identified as Shamar Elkins, shot a total of 10 people, including two women who survived the horrific ordeal.
One of the female victims is reported to have suffered life-threatening injuries and is believed to have been shot in the head.
After committing 8 murders, the gunman drove to Harrison Street, around a quarter of a mile away. He was followed there 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.
Elkins took his daughter on a 1-on-1 date hours before
A social media post by Elkins is going around, in which the murderer has posted his eldest child’s photo, stating that they went on a 1-on-1 date.
On Saturday evening, Elkins shared happy photos from a burger outing with his eldest daughter. “Lol!!!! Took my oldest on a lil 1 on 1 date, had to catch her down bad ugh ugh,” he captioned the image.
