The city of Shreveport, Louisiana, is reeling after a horrific domestic violence rampage on Sunday morning left eight children dead and several others wounded.

Police have identified the gunman as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, a former member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, who was killed by law enforcement following a high-speed pursuit. Authorities described the event as a “family annihilation,” marking it as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years.

The violence began just after 6:00 AM in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood. According to police, Elkins first shot a woman on the street before moving to a nearby residence where the eight children were killed. Investigators revealed that seven of the deceased children were Elkins’ own “descendants,” while another child was also fatally caught in the spree. The victims were unimaginably young, with ages ranging from just 1 to 14 years old. Two adult women, including the mother of several of the children, remain in serious condition at a local hospital, while a teenager sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The crime scene eventually spanned four separate locations. After the initial shootings, Elkins reportedly carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint, leading officers on a chase that crossed the Red River into neighboring Bossier City. The pursuit ended in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, resulting in Elkins’ death. No officers were harmed during the confrontation, and the Louisiana State Police have taken over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting portion of the incident.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed the community’s profound shock during a press conference, calling it “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had” in the city’s history. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also issued statements of grief, requesting prayers for the families and the first responders who arrived at the gruesome scenes. As the investigation continues, local leaders have highlighted a disturbing rise in domestic-related homicides, noting that this single act of violence has more than doubled the city’s homicide count for the year.