WASHINGTON — A man fatally shot eight children, seven of them his own, early Sunday in the southern US state of Louisiana, in what police said appears to have been an incident of domestic violence.
The incident, which took place just after 6:00 am (1100 GMT) in the city of Shreveport, was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
Three boys and five girls ranging in age 3 to 11 were killed in the shooting spree across three homes, police said.
They included seven siblings and a cousin, the coroner’s office said. Police said earlier the ages ranged from 1 to 14.
Shreveport Police Cpl. Chris Bordelon identified the gunman as Shamar Elkins, and said the shootings were “domestic in nature.”
Elkins was 31, according to previous police reports.
A 13-year-old boy was injured after fleeing from a home and jumping from the roof, Bordelon said. He sustained a “few broken bones” but is expected to recover, he said.
Some children tried to escape out the back door during the shooting, said state Rep. Tammy Phelps during a news conference Sunday afternoon with other city officials.
Two adult women were also shot in Sunday’s attack, Bordelon told local media.
Elkins’ wife, the mother of his children, was shot first and had “very serious injuries.” Then Elkins went to a separate residence where he shot the eight children and another woman. The other woman, who was the mother of the eighth child killed, has “life threatening injuries,” he added.
The suspect carjacked a vehicle and led police on a chase before officers opened fire and the assailant was killed. No officers were injured, according to state police.
“We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” Bordelon said.
One of Louisiana’s two US senators, Republican Bill Cassidy, called the incident an episode of “horrific violence” and wished the survivors a speedy recovery.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was “heartbroken.”
The United States, where firearms are readily available, is a frequent scene of gun violence, with thousands of people killed every year.
“It’s a terrible morning in Shreveport and we all mourn with the victims,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux said at the press conference. — Agencies
Source: Saudi Gazette