The Department of Justice revealed on Tuesday the arrest of a 56-year-old man from Shreveport, linked to the tragic mass shooting that shocked Louisiana over the weekend. The incident has once again highlighted the pressing issues of gun control and domestic violence.
The individual in custody, Charles Ford, a convicted felon barred from owning firearms, is accused of having the rifle that was ultimately used in the horrific event. Authorities traced the weapon and allege that it was used by Shamar Elkins, a 31-year-old father, in a devastating domestic violence attack.
This appalling act unfolded on Sunday when Elkins allegedly acquired the weapon and launched a violent assault across multiple locations. The rampage ended with his death at the hands of police in Shreveport. The victims, heartbreakingly, included seven of his own children, with ages ranging from just 1 to 14 years old.
Ford faces charges not only for the illegal possession of a firearm but also for allegedly providing false information to law enforcement regarding the weapon, as stated by prosecutors.
A family photo of Shamar Elkins has surfaced, adding a personal dimension to the tragedy, shared on social media. (Facebook/Shamar Elkins)
In a statement reflecting the gravity of the situation, ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson emphasized, “Holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger but also includes those who give access to and proliferate firearms that are later used in violent crime.” This arrest underscores the broader responsibility of preventing such tragedies by addressing the root cause of illegal firearm distribution.
The DOJ released a photo of the rifle used in the mass shooting, adding that the ATF and the Shreveport Police Department both conducted a firearms trace on it.
Ford was later identified as the original purchaser of the firearm and is accused of giving it to Elkins, authorities said.
When confronted by law enforcement, Ford initially lied to ATF agents about possessing the firearm, claiming he never had it.
He later admitted to the possession, stating that he kept it under a seat and believed Elkins took it, according to authorities.
Ford faces up to 15 years in federal prison on the felon-in-possession charge and up to five years on a false statement charge.
A rifle was confiscated from the scene of a deadly mass shooting that left eight children dead in Louisiana. (United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana)
United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller said the department hopes to hold accountable the person who gave Elkins access to the firearm.
“Elkins’ death means that our community will never see him face justice. Our hope, as we continue to investigate and prosecute this case alongside our law enforcement partners, is that holding the person whose gun Elkins used to perpetrate the crime accountable will give some small bit of solace to our Shreveport community,” Keller said.
“Our law enforcement partners are investigating every angle of how this tragedy came to occur, and this case arises from that investigation—in particular, how Elkins secured a firearm that he used to execute his own children,” he added.
Shamar Elkins, 31, is pictured in a family photo (Facebook/Shamar Elkins)
An Army official told Fox News Digital that Elkins previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard.
He reportedly shot several people in addition to the eight deceased victims during the attack, including the mother of his children, who is expected to survive.
Separately, another woman suffered life-threatening injuries, while a teenage victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the shootings, investigators said Elkins fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle and led officers on a police chase.
The incident ended in Bossier City, where Elkins was shot and killed by police.
Sunday’s shooting marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in recent years.
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