A troubled Army veteran, who tragically shot and killed his seven children and their cousin, had confided in his stepfather about being overwhelmed by “dark thoughts.” Just weeks prior to the horrific event, he expressed concern that some individuals never overcome their inner demons, as per a recent report.
Shamar Elkins, aged 31, fatally shot eight children—comprising five girls and three boys between the ages of 3 and 11—and gravely injured two women, potentially his wife and girlfriend, during a violent outburst in Shreveport. This followed a heated dispute with his spouse early Sunday morning.
On Easter Sunday, Elkins reached out to his mother, Mahelia Elkins, and his stepfather, Marcus Jackson, sharing his struggles with “dark thoughts” and suicidal tendencies. He also revealed that his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, was seeking a divorce, according to the New York Times.
“I told him, ‘You can overcome anything, no matter what challenges you’re facing,'” Jackson recounted to the publication. “His response was haunting, as he said, ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.'”
Mahelia Elkins admitted she was uncertain about the issues her son and daughter-in-law, who married in 2024 and have four children together, were facing, according to the Times.
However, a relative of one of the injured women disclosed that the couple was amid separation proceedings and had a court date scheduled for the following Monday.
They had been arguing about their relationship coming to an end when Elkins — who was later killed by cops — opened fire, Crystal Brown told the Associated Press.
The killer father worked at UPS and served with the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020 as a signal support system specialist and fire support specialist, according to the Times.
A UPS coworker described Elkins as a devoted dad, but said he often seemed stressed and would pull his hair out, creating a lasting bald spot, the publication reported.
Elkins’ mother noted that she had reconnected with her son more than a decade ago after leaving him to be raised by a family friend, Betty Walker. She had Elkins when she was a teenager and struggling with a crack cocaine addiction.
Walker said that she did not witness the shootings on Sunday morning but knew that Elkins shot his wife several times in the head and stomach, the paper reported.
She last saw the deranged father when his family came over for dinner just last weekend — but noted he did not appear off at the time.
“I was getting up this morning to make myself some coffee, and I got the call,” Walker recalled. “My babies — my babies are gone.”
Elkins also had two previous convictions, including for driving while intoxicated in 2016 and for the illegal use of weapons in 2019, the outlet said.
In March 2019, a police report detailed that the National Guard vet had pulled a 9 millimeter handgun from his waistband and shot at a vehicle five times after a driver pulled a handgun on him — with one of the bullets being discovered near a school where children were playing.
The victims killed by Elkins have been identified as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5. Seven of the eight were his own children, and the eighth was their cousin. They were all found dead inside their home in Shreveport.
Most of the victims were shot in the head while they slept, Shreveport Police Department spokesman Christopher Bordelon told NBC News.
One child was killed on the roof while trying to escape, police said.
Elkins, who was later killed by police during an attempted carjacking, also shot and wounded two women — the mothers of his children — during his murderous rage.
He shot his wife in the face at the home with the eight kids, Bordelon told the outlet. The other injured victim is believed to be Elkins’ girlfriend, who was shot in a separate house nearby, the police spokesperson added.
Elkins shared four of the slain children with his wife and three with the other injured woman, according to Brown.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
