By Baptist Message staff
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Lane Moore, Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association Mission Strategist, asked for prayers after an individual killed eight children in a domestic violence incident in Shreveport early April 19.
“This is tragic evidence of the complete breakdown of the nuclear family in our society, coupled with the inability to resolve disagreements without resorting to violence,” Moore told the Baptist Message. “The answer is not passing another law, but the Church, the true Body of Christ, presenting a model for what a godly home should look like and raise Christ-like men to be the protectors and providers of the home, not a threat to the home. But today, church leaders will pray and give counsel to the hurting as the community pulls together as everyone tells their children and grandchildren how much they love them.”
According to the Shreveport Police Department’s Facebook page, the children ranging from ages one to 14 were killed inside a home in the 300 block of West 79th St. in Shreveport on Sunday morning. Additionally, two adult females were treated at a local hospital for serious injuries. A teenage victim also sustained injuries during the incident, but police indicated those injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Preliminary information indicated Shamar Elkins first shot an adult female on Harrison Street before traveling to the residence on West 79th Street. After fleeing the scene, Elkins carjacked an adult male at gunpoint near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street.
After the carjacking, Shreveport Police Department DWI officers located the vehicle. A pursuit continued into Bossier Parish, where officers “were forced to discharge their department-issued firearms, neutralizing the suspect, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Louisiana State Police are conducting the investigation of the officer-involved shooting and no wrongdoing of the officer was suspected.
