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Murderer who gunned down 8 kids revealed but don’t expect this mass shooter to be in the media for long

April 20, 2026 | | Print Article

Tragedy in Louisiana found social media wondering “Where’s BLM??” as details emerged about the man alleged to have murdered eight kids, seven of them his own, ahead of the expected memory hole.

(Video Credit: 11Alive)

Over the weekend in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, at least 10 people were shot in what authorities are describing as a “domestic incident.” Subsequent reports have named 31-year-old Shamar Elkins — a veteran of the Louisiana Army National Guard, UPS worker, and a father to seven of the victims, holding a past criminal conviction and recent concerns about his mental state — as the alleged suspect.

Initial reports detail how officers responded to gunfire Sunday morning, revealing eight children had been killed. Since then, Elkins’ identity was revealed, as well as the identities of the eight victims named by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office: 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.

Of the children, seven were Elkins, and one was a cousin. The suspect was also alleged to have shot the two mothers of the seven children — striking one of them in the head — leaving them both in critical condition, before a police pursuit resulted in the suspect being neutralized.

According to the New York Times, Elkins’ mother, Mahelia Elkins, and stepfather, Marcus Jackson, described him as despondent on Easter Sunday. “Mr. Elkins told them through tears that he wanted to take his own life. He told Mr. Jackson that his wife (Shaneiqua Pugh) wanted a divorce, and that he was drowning in ‘dark thoughts.’ ‘I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,” Mr. Jackson said. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.'”

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Similarly, in addition to posting pictures of and with his children, his social media activity included an April 9 Facebook post shared from the Spiritual Inspiration account that read in part, “Dear God, Today I ask You to help me guard my mind and my emotions. When negativity arises, remind me to say, ‘It does not belong to me, in the name of Jesus.'”

“Help me to remember that there is power in Your name and that every force not from You must flee. When depression tries to settle in, when anger arises, when anxiety or panic comes, give me the awareness to recognize what is not from You and the strength to reject it immediately in the name of JESUS,” the posts read before going on to say, “Strengthen my mind so I can stand firm and not be overtaken by what I feel.”

In addition to a DUI, Elkins’ record includes a 2019 criminal conviction of illegal use of weapons, where he was said to have fired a handgun at a vehicle five times after a gun had been pulled by the driver.

The police report described the gunshots as being fired in the direction of a school while children were outside playing.

Among those reacting to the tragedy, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who represents the district where it took place, posted about it several times, including describing it as a “Heartbreaking tragedy” while calling the public to join in prayer, “especially for the families of the victims and all the first responders involved.”

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“Local officials are saying it is one of the worst tragedies they have ever seen. God be with the community through this terrible time,” he went on before citing Psalm 34:18 in a later post, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”

Meanwhile, others expected the typical coverage of tragedies like this to be quelled over the facts, including the race of the suspect and the fact that his behavior suggested the murders may have been averted.

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Kevin Haggerty
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