Eight Children Killed in Shreveport Domestic Shooting; Gunman Shot Dead by Police

Eight children, ranging in age from 1 to approximately 12 years old, were killed Sunday morning in a domestic shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. A total of 10 people were shot, including two adult females who remain in critical condition. The gunman was killed by police during a pursuit in Bossier Parish.

The Details

The violence began at approximately 05:00 local time on April 19, 2026. According to police spokesperson Chris Bordelon, the suspect first shot the mother of the children before turning the weapon on the children themselves. Seven of the eight deceased children were the suspect's own children; one victim was not related to him. Investigators identified multiple crime scenes across the city. The shooting spanned three residences: two homes located on the same block of West 79th Street and a third residence on Harrison Street. Some of the children reportedly attempted to escape through a back door during the attack, according to Democratic state Representative Tammy Phelps. Following the shootings, the suspect carjacked a vehicle and fled the scene. Law enforcement officers pursued the man into Bossier Parish, where they opened fire. The gunman died from his injuries. Police described the incident as domestic in nature. While the suspect had been arrested in 2019 in connection with a firearms case, authorities stated they were not aware of any other prior domestic violence issues involving the man.

Context

The incident is recorded as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January 2024, when eight people were killed in Joliet, Illinois. The Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an event where four or more people are shot (excluding the suspect), confirmed the scale of the tragedy. Shreveport, a city in northwestern Louisiana with a population of approximately 180,000, has struggled with high rates of domestic-related violence. City Councilman Grayson Boucher noted that more than 30% of the city's crimes and murders are domestic in nature. He further stated that this single event has more than doubled the city's homicide count for the year. Local and national officials have responded to the tragedy, with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing heartbreak over the loss of life.

What's Next

Law enforcement officials have not yet released the identity of the gunman, pending notification of the suspect's family. Investigations continue into the specific timeline of events across the three separate crime scenes to determine the exact sequence of the attack. Medical personnel continue to monitor the two adult females who were shot and remain in critical condition. Community leaders in Shreveport are expected to coordinate support services for the surviving family members and the affected neighborhood.