Eight children, including a one-year-old, were killed in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana early Sunday, according to the Associated Press. The incident took place around 6 am (local time) in Shreveport, leaving a total of 10 people shot.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old. Authorities said some of the children were related to the suspected gunman. Officials are still working to establish the sequence of events across what they described as a large and complex crime scene.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said the shooting stemmed from a domestic disturbance. The crime scene spanned three separate locations, adding to the scale of the investigation. “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” Smith said. The Police spokesperson confirmed the same.
“You have three different scenes, the shooting itself occurred just down the road over here, the 300 block of West 79th,” said Police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon. “There’s also another shooting related to this on Harrison Street, and then there’s an adjacent residence on West 79 where one of the victims ran to after the shooting.”
SUSPECT KILLED AFTER CHASE
Police spokesperson Bordelon said the suspect fled the scene immediately after the incident, carried out a carjacking near the intersection of West 79th Street and Lynnwood, and was subsequently tracked and pursued by Shreveport police patrol officers, leading to a chase.
The suspected shooter was killed by police after a vehicle chase that ended in Bossier City, officials confirmed. “We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here,” Bordelon said.
According to the Louisiana State Police, no officers were injured during the pursuit or the shooting involving law enforcement.
State police have taken over the investigation at the request of local authorities. Officials are asking anyone with photos, videos or information to come forward. Police said they are continuing to gather details about the incident, including the motive, as the investigation remains active.
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It’s a terrible morning.”
With inputs from agencies
