Police gather in front of a house in Shreveport, Louisiana, as they investigate a mass shooting on April 19, 2026. JILL PICKETT / AP
Eight children were killed in a shooting spree early Sunday, April 19, in the southern US state of Louisiana, in what police said appears to have been an incident of domestic violence. The incident, which took place just after 6:00 am (1100 GMT) in the city of Shreveport, was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
The gunman, who was not immediately identified but was an adult male, was fatally shot after a car chase and interaction with police, officials said. Mayor Tom Arceneaux told CNN that it was not clear if the assailant died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or from police fire. No officers were injured in the incident, according to state police.
Police Corporal Chris Bordelon told a press conference that the "rather extensive crime scene" spanned three residences, which were being combed for evidence by investigators. The deceased ranged in age from one to 14, Bordelon said. "Some of the children inside were his descendants." "We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations," Bordelon added, calling the incident a "domestic disturbance."
