Eight children were killed in a shooting early Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana, in what authorities believe was an act of domestic violence.
Officers from the Shreveport Police Department were dispatched to the 300 block of West 79th Street just after 6 a.m. in response to reports of a domestic disturbance.
Police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon described the scene as “extensive,” spanning multiple locations. Investigators are working across two homes on West 79th Street and a third site on nearby Harrison Street.
The victims ranged in age from 1 to about 14 years old. In total, 10 people were shot. Two others were also struck by gunfire, though their conditions were not immediately known.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was fatally shot by police following a car chase, officials said.
Authorities said the gunman carjacked a vehicle and led officers on a pursuit before police opened fire, killing him.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has represented the Shreveport area for nearly a decade, called the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” and said his team is in contact with local authorities.
Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the incident as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” saying it’s a “terrible morning, and we all mourn for the victims.”
