Eight children killed in Louisiana domestic shooting rampage

ALBAWABA- Eight children aged between 18 months and 14 years were shot dead early Sunday in a domestic disturbance that escalated into a mass shooting across several homes in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, police said.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 6:00 a.m. at a residence on West 79th Street. The violence quickly spread to at least two nearby homes, including one on Harrison Street, creating a sprawling crime scene across three to four locations.

Authorities found eight children fatally shot. Two adult women were also wounded but survived. Police indicated that some of the children were related to the suspect.

Eight children were killed in a shooting spree early Sunday in the southern US state of Louisiana, in what police said appears to have been an incident of domestic violence. https://t.co/lDY9ojtzaK pic.twitter.com/5XKQd7p7tH

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 19, 2026

The gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, fled the scene after the shootings, carjacked a vehicle, and led officers on a brief pursuit into Bossier Parish. Police opened fire during the chase, killing the suspect. No officers were injured. The Louisiana State Police is investigating the officer-involved shooting in line with standard procedures.

At a press briefing, Shreveport Police Corporal Chris Bordelon described the scene as extensive and complex. Police Chief Wayne Smith said the department was “taken aback” by the scale of the tragedy. 

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called it “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” highlighting its profound impact on families, first responders, and the wider community.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose district includes Shreveport, expressed condolences and said his office was in contact with local authorities.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims or the suspect.