Eight Children Dead After Shreveport Shooting, Suspect Killed

Eight children, ranging in age from one to 14 years old, died in a mass shooting Sunday morning in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ten people were shot in total, according to Shreveport Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Two other people survived gunshot wounds. The adult male suspect is also dead, killed by officers after a police chase.

The Shreveport Police Department responded to reports of a domestic disturbance on the 300 block of West 79th Street just after 6 a.m. The crime scene spanned multiple locations, including two homes on West 79th Street and a third on Harrison Street nearby, according to Bordelon. One of the victims ran to an adjacent residence on West 79th after the shooting, Bordelon said.

The suspect allegedly stole a car and led police on a chase. Shreveport police officers shot and killed the suspect in Bossier Parish, according to Bordelon. The Louisiana State Police will investigate the circumstances of the suspect's death, since it involved an officer, according to the superintendent. Detectives are working to process the scene and gather further information. The suspect acted alone, police said.

Mayor Tom Arceneaux called the shooting "maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had in Shreveport." Mack London, a 71-year-old who has lived on the same block since 1991, said violence like this is unheard of in the neighborhood. He learned of the killings from a neighbor as he stepped outside around 7 a.m. to close his gate.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident. House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose district includes Shreveport, called the incident a "heartbreaking tragedy" and said his team is in touch with local police. Governor Jeff Landry said he and his wife Sharon are heartbroken over the situation and are praying for everyone affected.

Police have not released the name of the suspect. A motive for the shooting is not clear at this time, according to police. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said investigators will be "going through every piece of evidence at every scene" to understand what took place.