Officials give update after father fatally shoots 7 of children and their cousin
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA/Gray News) – A father is accused of fatally shooting seven of his children and their cousin in a mass shooting in Louisiana on Sunday.
According to the coroner, the children were identified as Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Sariahh Snow, 11, Khedarrion Snow, 6 and Braylon Snow, 5.
The suspect, identified as Shamar Elkins, also shot two women, including his wife.
His wife, who is the mother of some of the children, was reportedly shot in the face, has undergone surgery and is expected to survive.
The condition of the other woman, who may also be the mother of some of the children killed, is described as “very serious.”
Another child, a 13-year-old boy, reportedly jumped off the roof of the home and was able to get away during the shooting. Police said he has some broken bones but should make a full recovery.
Officials said Elkins was shot and died during a pursuit in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, following the initial shooting. Gunfire was exchanged between police and Elkins.
Jacob and Tiffany Castleman said they were impressed by the response of local law enforcement.
“My thought process was like, man, there’s no way that that just happened behind our house. You know, it was, I was just in total shock. I was just like, ‘Oh my God, dude,’ like, it was just chaos. I mean, honestly like, it was just nothing like I’ve ever experienced,” Jacob Castleman said.
Jacob Castleman said he woke up to his wife telling him she heard sirens and possibly a gunshot.
“And then I sit up and we heard another gunshot. And I was like, ‘All right, that’s pretty close.’ So as I got up, we heard several more fires. And then I went and grabbed my firearm and checked out the back because that’s where I thought everything was coming from,” he said.
Jacob Castleman said the cul-de-sac was lined with police officers with their guns drawn, yelling at the suspect to put his hands up and come out.
Tiffany Castleman said she heard a single gunshot, then a second shot.
“And then when I heard the barrage, I knew that there was a full-blown shootout, something going. Mind you, we had no clue the later incidents that happened, but I had just full terror,” she said.
The Castlemans said law enforcement did a great job responding and working to keep people in the surrounding area safe.
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