On the morning of April 19, 2026, a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, killed eight children, including 6-year-old Kayla Pugh. The shootings occurred during a domestic dispute that escalated across multiple homes. Kayla was one of the eight children named among the victims: 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. Two women were also critically wounded, including the suspect’s wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, and one child survived by escaping from a roof.

The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, fled in a stolen vehicle and was fatally shot by officers after a police pursuit. Investigators described the incident as a tragic domestic violence incident; family members said Elkins had been struggling with mental health and had expressed dark thoughts related to a pending divorce. Authorities reported the firearm was stolen from an unlocked vehicle and that Elkins was federally prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 2019 weapons conviction; a man was later federally charged for allegedly lying about the weapon.

If anyone knew Kayla or has information that could shed light on the events that morning, please share what you know.