Additional Coverage:
- Louisiana mass shooter Shamar Elkins died in chilling doorstep suicide after ringing mentor’s bell (themirror.com)
Shamar Elkins, identified as the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in the past two years, died by suicide after seeking out his former mentor’s home in Louisiana.
In the early hours of April 19, Elkins fatally shot seven children-six of whom were his own-and a cousin in Shreveport, Louisiana. Shreveport police responded promptly to reports of gunfire in the Cedar Grove neighborhood.
Authorities revealed that Elkins first shot his wife on Harrison Street before moving to another residence, where the majority of the victims were found. The children ranged in age from 1 to 14 years.
Following the tragic shootings, Elkins, a former Louisiana National Guard member, drove to the home of Michael Mayence, his previous commanding officer. Mayence confirmed the encounter in a Facebook post, stating he was unaware of Elkins’ violent actions and believed Elkins came seeking refuge from law enforcement pursuing him.
Mayence described Elkins as someone he had known since childhood, even referring to him as “nephew,” having played a significant role in his upbringing. The two had spoken just days before the incident, discussing Elkins’ potential divorce from his wife. According to Crystal Brown, a cousin of one of the injured women, Elkins and his wife were in the midst of separating, with a court date scheduled, and had been arguing about the split prior to the shooting.
When Elkins arrived at Mayence’s house, his nephew answered the door to find Elkins armed with a short-barrel AR carbine, a semi-automatic rifle. The two spoke briefly before Elkins took his own life. Prior to this, Elkins had stolen a car at gunpoint, prompting a police chase that ended in Bossier Parish.
Among the victims were three boys and five girls, while two adult women-including Elkins’ wife, Shaneiqua Pugh-remain in critical condition. According to reports, one child managed to escape the violence by fleeing through the house roof but suffered a broken leg in the process.
Elkins’ brother-in-law, Troy Brown, shared with The Washington Post that tensions had escalated after Elkins’ wife requested a divorce, with Elkins reportedly appearing to “lose his mind” following their initial argument.
This tragic event has left the Shreveport community grappling with the devastating loss and seeking answers in its aftermath.