Community members in Shreveport, Louisiana, came together in heartbreak and solidarity to honor the lives of eight children killed in the devastating mass shooting carried out by 31-year-old Shamar Elkins on April 19. Seven of the victims were Elkins’ own children, while the eighth was their cousin. The children, now remembered throughout the community as the “Eternal 8,” according to CNN, were laid to rest on May 9. The funeral took place at Summer Grove Baptist Church, per The Associated Press.
The young victims were identified as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Mar’Kaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.
The community came together to honor the “Eternal 8.”
Family members, friends, faith leaders, teachers, and even complete strangers traveled from across the country to attend the emotional service, united by grief and a shared demand for change in the ongoing fight against gun violence. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., seeing a 68% increase in deaths between 2014 and 2024, according to data obtained by KFF.
The funeral service unfolded beneath powerful gospel music that echoed through the hall, bringing mourners to tears as hands lifted in prayer and loved ones embraced one another in sorrow. Some attendees had never met the children but felt compelled to stand beside the grieving families…