The killer of eight children, a fact that occurred this Sunday in Louisiana, including seven of his children, had already pleaded guilty to illegal use of weapons in 2019, local media reported Monday on the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since 2024.
Police had earlier arrested the deceased shooter, Shamar Elkins, 31, for illegal use of weapons and carrying a firearm on school property in Caddo District Court, where Shreveport, the city where the shooting occurred, is located, local television station KTBS first reported, then NBC and CBS.
Weapons-related priors mark shooter’s record
Louisiana gunman’s disturbing phone call to parents about wife’s divorce lawsuit shortly before he executed his seven children and nephewhttps://t.co/hNwF1m69ki 🔗 pic.twitter.com/M1vtgYFw9C
– Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) April 20, 2026
Elkins, who pleaded guilty to the first charge in October 2019 and cleared on the second, was placed on probation for 18 months.
This after firing five rounds of gunfire at a car outside Caddo Magnet School while children were playing outside, according to a police report cited by KTBS.
This conviction “likely prohibited him from legally possessing firearms,” Shreveport Police spokesman Christopher Bordelon told NBC.
Separately, the U.S. Army confirmed to CBS that Elkins served in the Louisiana National Guard from 2013 to 2020.
This as a signal support systems specialist and fire support specialist (Filed as: Killer of 8 children in U.S. already had a record for illegal weapons).
Louisiana Shooting Leaves Devastating Family Tragedy
Shamar Elkins wished he ‘could go back in time and have kids with different woman’ in grim post weeks before massacring children “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?” read… https://t.co/DcDX28MZBv pic.twitter.com/iBur7rnWoV
– UnfilteredAmerica (@NahBabyNahNahNah) April 20, 2026
The event, the deadliest shooting in the United States since 2024, occurred Sunday in Shreveport, a Louisiana city of nearly 200,000 people.
And it ended with the shooter being shot by police after a chase that ended in the neighboring town.
Authorities identified the assailant as a neighbor who was the father of seven of the eight deceased children and adolescents, who were between the ages of one and 14.
Two other adult women were also injured, one seriously, the police spokesman said.
He added that Elkins stole a vehicle to flee the scene.
After which a chase began that ended with the assailant being shot dead by the officers (Filed as: The killer of 8 children in the United States already had a record for illegal weapons).
Ongoing research
The Shreveport Police Department has identified the suspect of a domestic violence incident where the man killed eight children, seven of them his own.
The suspect was identified as Shamar Elkins. The post said all eight children were found with fatal gunshot wounds at a home on… pic.twitter.com/3w4u9rt7mh
– One America News (@OANN) April 20, 2026
Elkins worked in the Luisiana National Guard
QuéOnnda.com
Family members of the shooter quoted by the New York Times said Elkins had mental health problems and had expressed suicidal thoughts.
Police launched an investigation following the incident, which they described as a “domestic altercation,” but have not confirmed the possible motives of the assailant.
The United States has recorded 115 mass shootings so far this year, with at least four victims, according to Gun Violence Archive.
Non-profit organization that collects data on incidents of gun violence in the country.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
