NEW YORK: Eight children were killed in a mass shooting in the southern US state of Louisiana early Sunday, in what police described as an apparent domestic violence incident, with the suspected gunman later shot dead following a car chase.
The shooting took place in the city of Shreveport, where officers responded to multiple scenes spanning at least two residences, according to local authorities.
Speaking at a press conference, Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said the victims ranged in age from one to 14.
“Some of the children inside were his descendants,” he told media.
“This is a rather extensive crime scene spanning between two residences,” Bordelon said, adding that investigators were also examining a third location linked to the incident.
Police said the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, carried out the shootings before fleeing the scene.
According to Bordelon, the suspect hijacked a vehicle after the shooting and led police on a chase.
Officers later opened fire on the vehicle, killing the assailant.
“We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” Bordelon said, describing the incident as a “domestic disturbance”.
Two other individuals were struck by gunfire during the incident, though their conditions were not immediately known.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed grief over the tragedy.
“It’s a terrible morning in Shreveport and we all mourn with the victims,” he said at the briefing.
The United States continues to grapple with frequent incidents of gun violence, with firearms widely accessible and thousands of deaths recorded each year.
Such attacks are not uncommon, including shootings at schools and public venues.
In August 2025, two children were killed and 17 others injured when a gunman opened fire during a Mass in a Catholic church in Minneapolis before taking his own life.
Among the deadliest shootings in recent US history are the 2007 attack at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were killed, and the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 26 victims, including 20 children.
More recent incidents include the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, where 21 people were killed, and the 2018 attack in Parkland that claimed 17 lives.
