A veteran, described as deranged, tragically killed seven of his children and a cousin before taking his own life in the driveway of his former Army mentor’s house. This occurred after a police chase involving a stolen vehicle.
Shamar Elkins, 31, who had served in the Louisiana National Guard for seven years, carjacked a vehicle following the brutal slaying of his family at their residence in Shreveport, Louisiana. He then drove to Bossier City to the house of his former commander, Michael Mayence, early on Sunday morning.
According to a Facebook post by Mayence, he was completely unaware of Elkins’s actions until Elkins appeared at his doorstep, as reported by the Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate.
“I was totally unaware of all of the events taking place this morning when my cameras suddenly activated that there was activity in my doorway,” Mayence stated.
Mayence speculated that Elkins sought refuge at his home for the “safety that he had in me as his adopted uncle and trusted officer,” as reported.
As police arrived and began firing, Elkins fatally shot himself with an AR-15-style carbine he had brought with him, according to Mayence’s account.
Mayence, who shared his post widely among current and former Guard members, mentioned that he had “helped raise” Elkins and discussed a “possible divorce” with him just a day before the tragic events.
He expressed disbelief that Elkins could be violent.
Elkins had previous convictions from the past decade, including one for shooting at another driver near a high school in 2019 and another for driving under the influence in 2016.
Authorities are still investigating the possible motives behind the shooting.
Follow the latest updates on the Louisiana father who killed 8 children in Shreveport shooting:
Elkins was in the midst of a divorce from his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, and they were scheduled for a court appearance on Monday regarding the proceedings.
Pugh sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and stomach but managed to reach a neighbor’s house to call 911.
The individuals killed by Elkins have been 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.
Seven of the victims were his own children, and the eighth was their cousin, though it was not immediately clear which child was the cousin.
A single child managed to survive with a broken leg after escaping through the roof.
