Louisiana Mass Shooter Shamar Elkins Died Outside Former Army Mentor’s Home After Killing 8 Children

Shamar Elkins, the gunman behind one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country that left eight children dead, died in front of the home of his former Army mentor in Bossier City.

Three boys and five girls, ages 3 to 11, were killed in Shreveport on April 19 by Elkins. Seven of the children were his own, and one was their cousin, the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office had stated.

According to NBC, the suspect also shot his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, and girlfriend, Christina Snow, who survived the incident with serious injuries.

Latest reports suggest that following the shootings, Elkins, a former member of the Louisiana National Guard, went to the house of Michael Mayence, his former commander.

In a Facebook post, Michael Mayence said that Elkins was a former soldier of his and that he knew him since he was a child.

“I have no involvement in the actual incident,” said Mayence. “He called me uncle as I helped raise him without a father present! The suspect went on a chase with police to my residence after the murders, I guess looking for that safety that he had in me as his adopted uncle and trusted officer,” he added.

Mayence claimed that Elkins spoke with him a day before the tragedy about him possibly divorcing his wife. “I didn’t pick up any indicators of murder/suicide and I should have!” Mayence said.

“I was totally unaware of all of the events taking place this morning when my cameras suddenly activated that there was activity in my doorway. I went and heard his voice, my nephew, and then opened the door unknowingly, and he was standing there with his short barrel AR carbine,” he added.

The duo talked for a little under a minute before Elkins put the barrel to his mouth and shot himself, Mayence said.

“When he fired, I assume that the police thought he was shooting at them or me so they then opened fire. I got some glass in my arm from secondary kinetics,” he added.

Elkins arrived at Mayence’s house after carjacking a man’s vehicle at gunpoint. Police then chased him to Bossier City, where Mayence lived.

Elkins’ brother-in-law, Troy Brown, who lived with him, said Elkins’s wife, Pugh, had recently filed for a divorce. The couple were scheduled to appear in court for the proceedings.

After their first argument about the divorce, Brown said Elkins acted like “he was losing his mind,” The Washington Post reported. “He was upset about it. I would talk to him and he would tell me, ‘Bro, I don’t want to lose my wife,’” Brown added.

Brown said that he wasn’t aware Elkins had a gun. “If I would’ve known a gun was inside the home, I would have got rid of it,” he said.

Local officials have said that it is one of the worst tragedies they have ever seen. “The Shreveport community is mourning and working through today’s senseless tragedy. Please join us in praying especially for the families of the victims and all the first responders involved,” Speaker Mike Johnson said.