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A Louisiana gunman killed eight children in domestic violence at two separate homes on Sunday, Shreveport police said.
The victims ranged in age from one to 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesman Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 people were shot.
The gunman died after the police chase and shot the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene and was followed by the police, according to Bordelon.
The police did not release the suspect's name but said he is an older man.
Officials said they are still gathering information on crime scenes in downtown Shreveport – two homes and a third. Some of the children who were shot were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
“This is a huge event unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
A gunman in Louisiana opened fire in a domestic violence incident, killing eight children, according to Shreveport police. A total of 10 were shot, the victims ranged in age from one to one to 14 years old.
'bad morning'
Liza Demming, who lives two houses down from where the attack happened, said her camera captured video of the suspect running away, as well as the sound of two gunshots.
“That's all I saw, he was running out of the house and the cars left,” he said.
Demming later came out and saw the child's body covered on the roof of the house. He said he did not know the gunman's name.
“He's like a father who comes here,” he added, adding that he had been with the children for the past few days.
It was the worst mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in collaboration with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence of one of the shooting victims, officials appeared stunned, asking for patience and prayers from the public as they processed multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say. It just breaks my heart,” said Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith. “I can't begin to imagine how such an event could happen.”
“This is a sad situation – probably the worst situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, the mayor of the northwestern Louisiana city of about 180,000 people. “It's a bad morning.”
Louisiana State Police said their detectives were asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police said no officers were injured in an officer-involved shooting after a police chase in Bossier City Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with photos, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from Shreveport, said in separate statements that they were disappointed and praised law enforcement for their response.
“We hold the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Johnson said in a statement.
