Neighbors recall "full-blown shootout" as father targeted kids in shooting

U.S. Neighbors recall "full-blown shootout" after father targets children in mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana By Emily Mae Czachor Emily Mae Czachor News Editor Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek. Read Full Bio Emily Mae Czachor Updated on: April 20, 2026 / 10:43 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Neighbors who witnessed the aftermath of the massacre of eight children in Shreveport, Louisiana are describing the "chaos" they heard and saw as a father fatally shot seven of his own children and one of their cousins early Sunday morning.Police have identified the suspected gunman as Shamar Elkins, who fled law enforcement in a stolen car after carrying out the shooting. They said he died after officers chased him and opened fire.Two witnesses, Jacob and Tiffany Castleman, told CBS affiliate KSLA they were shocked and horrified as "a full-blown shootout" took place outside their home. Tiffany said she woke her husband after hearing sirens and what she believed was possible gunfire."And then when I heard the barrage, I knew that there was a full-blown shootout, something going," she told the station. "Mind you, we had no clue the later incidents that happened, but I had just full terror."Jacob said his first thought was "there's no way that that just happened behind our house.""I was just in total shock. ... it was just chaos," he told KSLA . "I mean, honestly like, it was just nothing like I've ever experienced."He told the station he remembered hearing more gunfire, seemingly "pretty close" to where he and his wife had been sleeping. Once outside, he said that he saw police officers with their guns drawn, shouting to the suspect to put his hands up and come out. Liza Demming, a neighbor who lives two houses down from the residence where most vic...