Shreveport, Louisiana is reeling after the devastating loss of eight children, now known as the “Eternal 8,” who were killed in what is being called the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in over two years. The community gathered on May 9, 2026, to honor their lives at a funeral that left hundreds in tears. For the three mothers who lost their children, the grief is only deepening as unanswered questions linger.
According to Shreveport Times, the children — 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 — were laid to rest in white caskets at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. The shooter, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, was the father of seven of the children and uncle to the eighth.
The attack also left two of the mothers seriously injured. One of them was shot in the face and another suffered a shattered pelvis after jumping from a roof to escape.
The funeral was a heartbreaking mix of sorrow and celebration
A gospel choir filled the sanctuary with music as mourners filed past the caskets, many struggling to reconcile the stillness of the children with the vibrant lives they once lived. According to CNN, Kayla Pugh, known as “K-Mae,” was remembered as a sweetheart with a big smile who loved school and playing with her siblings…