SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Authorities say eight children were killed in a domestic disturbance in Shreveport in the 300 block of W 79th Street. Two women were also shot in the incident.
The shooting happened around 6 a.m. near the intersection of W 79th and Linwood in the Cedar Grove area on Sunday (April 19), according to the Shreveport Police Department. The victims range in age from 1-year-old to about 14-years-old.
Police say a total of 10 people were shot, the only survivors being two women, with one suffering from life-threatening injuries. One of the women is believed to be in some kind of relationship with the suspect. Police also say the woman who has life-threatening injuries is believed to have been shot in the head.
Police also say they believe the shooter is the father of some of the children.
Officials said they're still gathering details about the crime scene, which extends across four locations. The four locations include two homes in which gunshot victims were found, the scene of a carjacking in which the suspect reportedly stole a car, and the scene where the suspect was shot dead in Bossier City.
Police say the suspected shooter was fatally shot after a chase from Shreveport into Bossier City. The suspect was shot in the 400 block of Brampton Lane. Gunfire was exchanged between police and the suspected shooter. Police say it's unclear at this time whether the suspect died at his own hands or from a shot fired by police.
Louisiana State Police is investigating this incident.
Some of the children shot were related to the suspect, police believe.
"This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen," Smith added.
Louisiana State Police says their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate the shooting of the suspect.
In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video, or information to share it with state police detectives.
"This is a tragic situation -- maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had," said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. "It's a terrible morning."
Mayor Arceneaux's full statement reads:
'No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.'
Those words from John Donne remind us that a tragedy like this does not belong to one family alone -- it belongs to all of us. Today, our community is grieving the unimaginable loss of innocent children. There are no words that can make sense of it, and no distance that shields us from it.
Shreveport is not an island. We are connected -- and in moments like this, that connection must mean something. It must mean compassion, it must mean awareness, and it must mean action.
This tragedy reaches far beyond the scene itself. It affects the first responders who answered the call, the neighbors who witnessed the aftermath, the families who are now living a nightmare, and a community that feels shaken to its core. These are the kinds of moments that leave a lasting imprint -- on our hearts, on our minds, and on our sense of safety.
We must check on one another. We must support those who carry the weight of what they saw and heard today. And we must not ignore the deeper issues -- violence in the home, untreated trauma, and the silence that allows both to grow.
Please keep these children, their loved ones, and everyone affected in your prayers. And if you are hurting, reach out. You do not have to carry this alone.
"The tragic and senseless loss of eight innocent children in our neighboring city of Shreveport is something that is difficult to comprehend. These were young lives with futures ahead of them, taken far too soon in an act of unimaginable violence.
While this incident began in Shreveport, it impacted our community as it came to a close here in Bossier City. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement officers and first responders who acted to bring this situation to an end and protect others from further harm.
Today, we stand with our neighbors in Shreveport. We grieve with the families who are experiencing an unimaginable loss, and we lift them up in our prayers.
In moments like this, we are reminded that we are one community. We mourn together, we support one another, and we remain committed to doing everything we can to keep our citizens safe.
We ask everyone to keep the victims, their families, and all those affected in your thoughts and prayers."
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement about the incident:
"Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation. We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life. I'm praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence."
The Shreveport City Council released a statement Sunday afternoon about the deadly mass shooting:
"Our hearts are broken by this tragedy that is devastating these families and loved ones,andthe community of Shreveport,who have lost so much this morning.As more details emerge,we want to express our gratitude to the emergency personnel who responded so quickly,andto our local and state law enforcement officers who are moving this investigation forward.Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one in thenorth Louisiana community affected by this senseless loss of life.We stand ready to assist in any way that we can in days ahead."
Updates will be provided through appropriate law enforcement and media channels as information becomes available.
Anyone with information about what happened should call SPD at 318-673-7300, or call Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault should call sheriff's office hotline at 318-560-2383. Victims can also call Local Sexual Assault Hotline at 888-995-7273 ,or call 888-411-1333 .Anyone in immediate danger should call 911 .Those experiencing domestic violence can also contact Shreveport's Project Celebration at 318-221-8003 .