In the quiet Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, a single Sunday morning in April 2026 descended into unimaginable terror that lasted exactly 68 minutes. What began as a domestic dispute exploded into one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history, as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, a former Louisiana National Guard member, unleashed deadly violence that claimed the lives of eight children — seven of them his own.

Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s CCTV camera, positioned just two doors down, has become the haunting centerpiece of the investigation. The video reportedly shows the full sequence: the initial bursts of gunfire echoing through the early morning calm, a figure identified as Elkins fleeing the scene on foot toward a nearby tire shop, and the chaotic moments that followed. Neighbors described hearing rapid shots around 6 a.m., with some children desperately trying to escape by crawling through windows and climbing onto the roof. One young victim was later found dead on that roof, while another child survived after jumping to safety.

The rampage unfolded across multiple locations on the same block, including homes on West 79th Street and a nearby residence on Harrison Street. Authorities say Elkins first shot two adult women, including his wife Shaneiqua Pugh, who was left in critical condition. He then moved through the houses, firing on the children as they slept or hid. The victims, aged between 12 months and 14 years, included three boys and five girls. Many suffered fatal head wounds in what police described as a scene of profound evil.

As panic spread, terrified residents called 911. One surviving woman managed to alert authorities, identifying Elkins as the shooter. Within minutes, police swarmed the area, discovering bodies inside the homes and the devastating aftermath. Elkins, however, had already fled. He reportedly carjacked a vehicle and led officers on a high-speed pursuit that crossed into Bossier City.

The 68-minute timeline ended around 7:03 a.m. when Elkins was confronted by police on Brompton Lane. He died at the scene following an exchange of gunfire. Investigators are still determining whether he was killed by officers or died by suicide. An “attack pistol” was recovered, and forensic teams continue processing evidence from the multiple crime scenes.

The community remains in shock. Neighbors who had waved at Elkins and watched his children playing in the yard just the day before now struggle to reconcile the normal family man they thought they knew with the perpetrator of such horror. Some recalled seeing him appear calm and affectionate with the kids in recent days. Others spoke of hearing nothing unusual until the gunfire erupted, underscoring how quickly normalcy can shatter.

Elkins had a military background, serving in the Louisiana National Guard from 2013 to 2020. He also had a prior weapons-related conviction years earlier. Family members later mentioned he had been battling inner demons, including depression and emotional struggles, and had shared posts online expressing a desire for peace and strength against negative thoughts. One recent photo showed him enjoying a father-daughter outing, adding a heartbreaking layer to the tragedy.

This massacre has left an entire neighborhood haunted. Residents report sleepless nights replaying the sounds captured on CCTV and the images of emergency vehicles flooding their once-peaceful streets. Counselors and community leaders have stepped in to support grieving families and traumatized neighbors. As investigations deepen into the motive — believed to stem from a domestic separation — many are left asking how warning signs, if any existed, went unnoticed.

The horror of those 68 minutes will linger in Shreveport for years to come, a grim reminder of how fragile safety can be, even in the heart of a quiet residential block.