DOJ Arrests Felon Who Supplied Gun in Shreveport Mass Shooting
Charles Ford, 56, faces 20 years in prison for providing rifle used by Shamar Elkins to kill eight children in Louisiana domestic rampage.
Federal prosecutors arrested Charles Ford, a 56-year-old Shreveport man, Tuesday for supplying the rifle that killed eight children in Sunday's domestic mass shooting. Ford, a convicted felon banned from owning firearms, faces up to 20 years in prison for providing the weapon to shooter Shamar Elkins.
The arrest comes three days after Elkins killed seven of his own children plus one other child in a multi-scene domestic rampage before police shot him dead. The victims ranged in age from 1 to 14 years old.
ATF agents traced the rifle back to Ford as the original purchaser. When confronted, Ford initially lied to federal agents, claiming he never possessed the weapon. He later admitted keeping it under a seat and said he believed Elkins took it without permission.
"Holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger but also includes those who give access to and proliferate firearms that are later used in violent crime," ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson said.
Ford faces 15 years on the felon-in-possession charge and five years for lying to federal agents. The case highlights how prohibited persons continue accessing firearms through straw purchases and informal transfers that bypass background checks.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller said prosecutors hope Ford's arrest brings "some small bit of solace" to Shreveport after Elkins' death prevented him from facing justice. "Our law enforcement partners are investigating every angle of how this tragedy came about," Keller said.
The DOJ released photos of the confiscated rifle as part of their firearms trace investigation conducted jointly by ATF and Shreveport police. The case demonstrates federal authorities' increasing focus on prosecuting upstream gun suppliers in mass violence cases.
Ford's arrest sends a clear message that providing firearms to prohibited persons carries severe federal penalties, even when the supplier claims the weapon was stolen or taken without consent.