Shreveport, Louisiana survivors escaped via the roof and called 911: police

If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. The free service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Every call is confidential, and you can remain anonymous. 

—

Some of the Shreveport survivors in a mass domestic violence incident on Sunday escaped via the roof and called 911, police detailed in a press conference on Monday. 

Shreveport 911 call

What they’re saying

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said the first 911 call came in at 5:55 a.m. Sunday from someone who said they were on the roof of a house and that someone inside had a gun and was shooting.

Further 911 calls told dispatch that the man had shot everyone inside the home, Smith said. 

A few minutes later, just after 6 a.m., a woman told dispatch she and her children escaped from the roof and were now in the backyard.  

Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon said on Sunday that a 13-year-old boy had escaped by jumping off the roof and was not shot, but broke some bones. It’s unclear if any other children were in the home at the time and escaped.

“This by far was probably one of the most challenging incidents that (the Shreveport Police Department) has ever faced,” Smith added, and said the investigation is still continuing across five crime scenes. 

Shreveport, Louisiana shooting

Big picture view

Eight children were killed, and two adult women were shot and seriously injured. It’s unclear at this time if the woman who called 911 is one of the women who is hospitalized.

The shooting happened at multiple homes in the city of Shreveport in Louisiana early Sunday morning, and the suspect stole a car and drove off before he was shot and killed elsewhere in a police pursuit. 

The gunman has been identified as Shamar Elkins, and police said he was the father of seven of the children who were killed. 

Police have not yet said what led up to the shooting, but said it was a “domestic disturbance.” 

Children killed in Shreveport shooting

The children’s names, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents the district including Shreveport, and city officials at the Monday press conference: 

• Jayla Elkins, 3
• Shayla Elkins, 5
• Kayla Pugh, 6
• Layla Pugh, 7
• Markaydon Pugh, 10
• Sariahh Snow, 11
• Khedarrion Snow, 6
• Braylon Snow, 5

Mass ShootingsLouisianaNews