Authorities have identified eight children who were killed in a mass shooting early Sunday morning in the Cedar Grove neighborhood, a tragedy that has shaken the local community and prompted an ongoing multi-agency investigation.
According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, the victims — seven siblings and one cousin — ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old. The children were found at a residence in the 300 block of West 79th Street after police responded to reports of gunfire shortly before 6 a.m. on April 19.
Family members identified the victims as 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.
Officials said the children suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Autopsies have been ordered as part of the investigation.
The shooting occurred in Cedar Grove, a neighborhood in south Shreveport that has faced ongoing concerns related to violent crime. Authorities have not yet released details about a suspect or motive, and the case remains under active investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies.
Community leaders and residents expressed grief and disbelief in the hours following the incident, describing the loss as one of the most devastating events in recent memory for the area.
The deaths mark the eighth through 15th homicides recorded in Shreveport and Caddo Parish in 2026, according to officials, underscoring broader concerns about violence in the region.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as investigators continue working to determine what led to the tragedy.