US3 min(s) read
Published 11:41 20 Apr 2026 GMT
The Louisiana man accused of killing all seven of his children, as well as his nephew, before being shot dead by police, had posted a photo with one of his daughters just hours before the horrifying attack took place.
Authorities say 31-year-old Army veteran and UPS worker Shamar Elkins carried out the shootings across three locations in Shreveport on Sunday.
The victims, aged between three and 11, prompted audible shock in the room as their ages were read aloud during a police press conference following the horrifying events.
The children, Jayla Elkins, three; Shayla Elkins, five; Kayla Pugh, six; Layla Pugh, seven; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, six; and Braylon Snow, five; were confirmed by the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office.
Seven were siblings, while one was their cousin. Elkins later fled the scene before being pursued by police and shot dead in nearby Bossier City.
In a chilling, recently uncovered detail, Elkins had shared a photo on Facebook just the day before, showing him with his eldest daughter during what he described as a one-on-one outing. “Lol!!!! Took my oldest on a lil 1 on 1 date had to catch her down bad ugh ugh,” he wrote, alongside laughing emojis.
Two weeks earlier, he had posted a family photo featuring his seven young children, writing: “Happy Easter had a wonderful time at church for the first time with all my kids what a blessed day.”
However, behind those posts, there were clear signs of distress, according to reports from loved ones, as well as his via Elkins' social media posts. On the same day as the Easter message, Elkins reportedly told his mother and stepfather he was struggling with “dark thoughts,” expressing a desire to end his life and revealing his wife wanted a divorce.
His stepfather, Marcus Jackson, recalled trying to reassure him: “I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” before Elkins responded: “Some people don’t come back from their demons.”
In another post dated April 9, Elkins hinted further at mental health struggles, writing: “Dear God, Today I ask You to help me guard my mind and my emotions.” He continued: “When negativity arises, remind me to say, ‘It does not belong to me, in the name of Jesus’… When depression tries to settle in… give me the awareness to recognize what is not from You and the strength to reject it.”
Elkins had previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013 to 2020 and worked as a UPS employee. An older social media post from his wife showed him in uniform, with her writing: “Been waiting for yu [sic] 5 more days… And yu all mines. Damn bby I gt to fatten yu up.”
According to KTBS, Elkins was known to police, having been arrested in 2019 for the illegal use of a weapon after he fired multiple shots near a Shreveport high school. He later pleaded guilty and was placed on probation, while a separate firearm charge was dropped.
The investigation into Sunday’s killings is now being handled by Louisiana State Police due to the multiple locations involved. Officials and politicians have since expressed their grief both online and publicly.
