Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith provided a comprehensive timeline on Monday, April 20, 2026, regarding a violent crime spree that resulted in the deaths of eight children and the wounding of two women. The events, which spanned 63 minutes on Sunday morning, involved multiple crime scenes across Shreveport and concluded in a fatal confrontation between the suspect and law enforcement in neighboring Bossier City.
The incident began at 5:55 a.m. on Sunday when emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from a residence in Shreveport. According to Chief Smith, the initial call reported a domestic disturbance that rapidly escalated into a series of interconnected crimes, including at least two separate shootings, a kidnapping, and a carjacking. Law enforcement agencies, including the Shreveport Police Department and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, were deployed to track the suspect as the situation moved through several neighborhoods.
The suspect was identified as 63-year-old Shamar Elkins. Authorities confirmed that Elkins was the father of seven of the eight children killed in the attack. The two adult victims, who remain in serious condition at a local medical facility, are the mothers of the children and had prior romantic involvements with Elkins. Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. described the scene as one of the most significant tragedies in the region’s history, noting the scale of the loss of life within a single family unit.
Following the initial shootings, Elkins reportedly fled the scene, leading to a high-speed pursuit. The chase ended in Bossier City, where Elkins engaged in a shootout with Shreveport police officers. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene following the exchange of gunfire. No law enforcement officers were reported injured during the final confrontation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have joined local authorities to assist in the ongoing investigation. Chief Smith stated that while the sequence of events has been established, a specific motive for the mass shooting has not yet been determined. Investigators are currently processing forensic evidence from multiple locations, including the primary residence and the site of the vehicle pursuit.
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office is working to finalize the identification of the deceased children, though police have confirmed they were all minors. Local officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active as they coordinate with federal partners to review the suspect’s history and any potential warning signs leading up to the April events.
Chief Smith confirmed that the 63-minute duration of the event was calculated from the time of the first 911 call to the moment the suspect was neutralized. The Shreveport Police Department is expected to release further details as the ballistic reports and autopsy results are completed. This incident represents one of the deadliest domestic-related shootings in the state's history, prompting a large-scale multi-agency response.