Shreveport mass shooting: Gunman kills 8 children

By Gerald Herbert and John SeewerThe Related Press

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A gunman in Louisiana killed eight youngsters and shot two different individuals April 19 in an early morning assault of home violence carried out throughout two homes, a mass capturing that shook a Shreveport neighborhood, authorities mentioned.

The suspect died after a police pursuit, and the victims — who ranged in age from 1 to about 14 years outdated — included youngsters associated to the gunman, mentioned Shreveport Police Division spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Investigators didn’t say what might have set off the assault. Situations of these wounded weren’t instantly identified.

The mass capturing was the deadliest within the U.S. in additional than two years.

“That is an intensive scene not like something most of us have ever seen,” Bordelon mentioned.

Officers fired on the suspect throughout a chase after he stole a automobile whereas leaving the scene of the shootings, Bordelon mentioned.

Police didn’t launch the identify of the suspect however did say he was an grownup male.

Officers mentioned they have been nonetheless gathering particulars on the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport, together with from the 2 houses and a 3rd location.

Liza Demming, who lives two homes down from the place one of many assaults occurred, mentioned her safety digital camera captured video of the suspect working away together with the sound of two pictures.

“That’s’ just about all I noticed was him working out of the home and the vehicles leaving,” she mentioned.

Demming later went exterior and noticed the lined physique of a kid on the house’s roof. She mentioned she didn’t know the gunman’s identify.

“He seems to be just like the dad that comes over right here,” she mentioned, including that he was simply with the kids a number of days in the past.

Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., of close by St. Gabriel Group Baptist Church, who owns one of many houses the place the shootings occurred, mentioned an individual who works for him had rented it to the household, however he by no means had dealings with them.

“I don’t actually know them, I actually don’t,” he mentioned. “I do plan on having a prayer vigil for the household, and something I can do, with so many youngsters, to assist them bury the kids, I’m going to take action.”

It was the deadliest mass capturing within the U.S. since eight individuals have been killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, in response to a database maintained by The Related Press and USA At present in partnership with Northeastern College.

At a information convention exterior the residence the place one of many shootings occurred, officers appeared surprised, requesting endurance and prayers from the neighborhood as they sorted via a number of crime scenes.

“I simply don’t know what to say, my coronary heart is simply stunned,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith mentioned. “I can’t start to think about how such an occasion may happen.”

“This can be a tragic scenario — perhaps the worst tragic scenario we’ve ever had,” mentioned Tom Arceneaux, mayor of town in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It’s a horrible morning.”

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been requested by Shreveport police to analyze. In an announcement, state police say no officers have been harmed within the capturing that concerned an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier Metropolis on the morning of April 19.

State police are asking anybody with photos, video or data to share it with state police detectives.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and U.S. Home Speaker Mike Johnson, who’s from Shreveport, mentioned in separate statements that they have been heartbroken and praised legislation enforcement for his or her response.

“We’re holding the victims, their households and family members, and our Shreveport neighborhood shut in our ideas and prayers throughout this extremely tough time,” Johnson mentioned in an announcement.

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This story has been corrected to attribute the statements concerning the capturing to police spokesperson Chris Bordelon, not Police Chief Wayne Smith.

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Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Related Press reporters Jake Offenhartz in New York, Jeff Martin in Atlanta and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed.