8 Children Dead in Shreveport Mass Shooting — Suspect Killed After Police Chase
Eight children ages 1-14 were killed Sunday morning in a domestic mass shooting across multiple Shreveport locations. Police Chief Wayne Smith says suspect died in shootout.
Eight children and teens died Sunday morning in a mass shooting that spanned multiple locations across Shreveport, Louisiana. The suspected gunman is also dead after a police chase and shootout, authorities said.
Police Chief Wayne Smith told reporters that 10 people total were shot in what he described as a "domestic in nature" incident. The victims ranged in age from 1 to approximately 14 years old. Smith did not release names of any victims or the suspect.
The violence unfolded across three separate locations in the northwestern Louisiana city of 187,000. Two residences on the same block were targeted, along with a third home in another part of the neighborhood. Officers responded to the first shooting scene just after 6 a.m. local time.
The suspect fled the initial scene and carjacked a vehicle outside the property before leading police on a chase through the city. Officers pursuing the gunman opened fire during the pursuit, killing the suspect. Smith said the gunman acted alone.
The scale of child victims in a single incident represents one of the deadliest domestic shootings involving minors in recent Louisiana history. Smith's description of the incident as domestic suggests the killer targeted family members or acquaintances, though police have not confirmed relationships between the suspect and victims.
Shreveport sits near the Texas and Arkansas borders in Louisiana's northwest corner. The city has struggled with violent crime rates above the national average in recent years, though mass casualty events involving multiple children remain rare.
Police have not disclosed the type of weapon used or how the suspect gained access to multiple locations. The carjacking and multi-location pattern suggest premeditation rather than a spontaneous domestic dispute that escalated.
Louisiana does not require permits for gun purchases or impose waiting periods, relying instead on federal background check requirements. The state has some of the highest gun ownership rates in the nation.
Authorities are working to notify all family members before releasing victim identifications. The investigation spans multiple crime scenes and will likely take days to complete as forensics teams process evidence from each location.
This is a developing story and will be updated.