Eight children, the youngest just a year old and the eldest only 14, have been killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, described by authorities as a domestic disturbance of horrific scale.
A total of ten people were shot in the incident, which began at around 6 a.m. on Sunday, according to Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith. Police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon described an “extensive” crime scene that spanned three homes, with one of the children managing to run to a neighbour to seek help.
The suspected gunman, who is believed to be related to some of the victims, fled the initial location. Bordelon stated that the individual then performed a carjacking near the corner of West 79th and Lynnwood Avenue. Shreveport police patrol officers pursued the stolen vehicle in a chase that crossed into neighbouring Bossier City.
During that pursuit, the suspect was shot and killed by police. The Louisiana State Police, whose detectives have now been asked by Shreveport police to lead the investigation, confirmed that no officers were harmed in the shooting. The state police are appealing to the public for any pictures, video, or information to share with detectives.
A Scene of Unimaginable Tragedy
The scale of the violence has left the city’s leadership reeling. “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” Chief Smith said. “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called it “a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” in a city of approximately 180,000 residents. “It’s a terrible morning,” he added. Mayor Arceneaux has previously spoken publicly about the dangers of gun violence in domestic situations and the city’s broader efforts to combat crime.
Police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon, a public information officer for the department since 2010, reiterated that based on the initial investigation, “We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here.”
Investigation and a City’s Violent Context
The decision to bring in the Louisiana State Police to investigate follows protocol for an officer-involved shooting. State police detectives have been called to investigate several such incidents in Shreveport in recent years. These include the February 2023 death of Alonzo Bagley, who was shot after fleeing police during a domestic disturbance call, and a fatal officer-involved shooting on Crockett Street in May 2025.
Sunday’s massacre also sits against a backdrop of recurring gun violence in the city. Shreveport has witnessed several mass shootings in recent years, including an incident in July 2023 that left four dead and seven injured during a Fourth of July celebration, and another in January 2023 where eight people, including three children, were shot. The city has also seen other carjackings, including a high-profile incident at Ochsner LSU Health hospital in August 2020.
In response to the persistent violence, Mayor Arceneaux and Chief Smith have emphasized police efforts to seize illegal weapons, citing the removal of over 24,000 such guns over a two-year period, and have developed strategic crime-fighting plans. The motive for Sunday’s shooting, however, remains unknown as the state police investigation continues.
