INTERNATIONAL — April 20, 2026
Eight Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting
A gunman killed eight children, seven of them his own, and wounded two others in a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana before being shot dead by police after a carjacking. The incident is being investigated as a domestic matter with no motive disclosed by authorities.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Pajhwok — corroborated by Hurriyat — 2 min read

Police in Louisiana are investigating a domestic shooting that left eight children dead and two adults wounded on Sunday.
The shooting took place in Shreveport across two houses. The gunman, named Shamar Elkins by authorities, killed the children, seven of whom were his own, before wounding two other people and attempting to escape.
According to Shreveport Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon, the incident is being treated as an entirely domestic matter. Bordelon said there were no known prior reports of domestic violence involving the suspect.
Elkins was previously arrested in two thousand nineteen on firearms related charges, police records show.
After committing the shootings, Elkins carjacked a car and was chased by law enforcement officers. Police shot him dead during the pursuit.
The two wounded individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital. One of them is in critical condition. One report identified the wounded as women.
Louisiana officials have yet to determine or disclose a motive for the killings.
This tragic event is occurring against the backdrop of a recent increase in armed attacks in various American cities, which has been a source of concern for many residents across the country.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to understand the full circumstances of the domestic incident that resulted in the deaths and injuries.
Read the original reporting at Pajhwok →
Reliability assessment
Two independent Afghan media outlets corroborate the core event of a gunman killing eight children and injuring two others in Louisiana before being killed by police. Pajhwok includes direct attribution to a named police spokesperson (Chris Bordelon) with checkable specifics; minor descriptive differences do not undermine the shared fundamental facts.
The source language reads straight.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Eight children were killed in a shooting incident in Louisiana
- Two other people were injured and hospitalized
- The perpetrator was killed by police
- No motive has been officially determined by authorities
Where reports differ
- Injured victims described as 'two women' by Hurriyat versus 'two other people' by Pajhwok
- Pajhwok adds specific location (Shreveport, two houses), suspect name (Shamar Elkins), victim relationship (7 of 8 were his children), prior police record, and classifies it as a domestic incident; these details are absent from Hurriyat
Filed by 2 outlets
Pajhwok
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Hurriyat
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
International — Louisiana shooting, US gun violence, Shamar Elkins, Child victims, Domestic incident
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