Survivors of domestic violence or any traumatic experience can testify that surviving the moment is only the beginning of a never-ending, treacherous road.
As my city awoke on April 19, 2026 for another Sunday morning, we learned the unimaginable had taken place in our own backyard.
Eight children were eternally sleeping, another 13-year-old boy was badly injured, two mothers were in the hospital fighting for their lives, and the father responsible was dead. To say the whole city was in disbelief would be an understatement. It was a gorgeous day outside, but the mood was eerily somber wherever you went. Horror was unleashed in Shreveport, La., and it had set up camp in my neighborhood.
One can only imagine the chaos that unfolded during Shamar Elkins’ rampage. The fear everyone involved felt, the confusion that those innocent babies faced. My heart is broken for the dreams that will never come to fruition. Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Braylon Snow, 5, Khedarrion Snow, 6, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, and Sariahh Snow, 11, may be playing in God’s garden, but their earthside exit changed the fabric of Cedar Grove forever. My spirit grieves for Shanequia Pugh and Christina Snow, who must bury their children. No mother should have to watch a casket close on their seed. It’s a darkness you may come back from, but it never truly leaves you…