By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Thursday, April 23, 2026

A Louisiana father who murdered eight children, including seven of his own, and injured his wife and another woman before police killed him after he fled the scene on Sunday, publicly begged God to guard his mind and emotions from "dark thoughts" just weeks before the attack.

The father, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, gave into his dark side and murdered his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, who was seeking a divorce from him, USA Today and multiple media outlets reported.

“All eight children were found at the location suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. In addition, two adult females sustained gunshot injuries — one of whom is the suspect’s wife. At this time, both women remain under medical care, and we are hopeful for their recovery.”

The deceased children have been identified 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.

The Shreveport Police Department said, "After fleeing the scene, the suspect carjacked an adult male at gunpoint near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and West 79th Street. Shortly after the carjacking, ... DWI officers located the stolen vehicle and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit continued into Bossier Parish, where officers ultimately engaged the suspect. Officers were forced to discharge their department-issued firearms, neutralizing the suspect, who was pronounced deceased at the scene."

In a separate statement, the department added, “As our community continues to grieve the unimaginable tragedy that unfolded yesterday morning, the Shreveport Police Department can now confirm that the individual responsible for this heinous act is Shamar Elkins. He, and he alone, is responsible for the deaths of eight children at a residence in the 300 block of West 79th Street.” 

Elkins’ biological mother, Mahelia Elkins, and his stepfather, Marcus Jackson, told The New York Times that on Easter Sunday, his wife had asked for a divorce, and he wanted to end his life.

He said he was drowning in “dark thoughts,” and Jackson said he tried to encourage him.

“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” Jackson recalled. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”

Betty Walker, a woman who told the Times that she raised Elkins as her son even though she's not his biological mother, said he and his wife were having trouble even before they got married in 2024.

Walker said shortly before they got married, Elkins’ wife confided in her that she was thinking about leaving him and taking the children with her. Walker said Elkins became angry and told Pugh that if she ever tried to leave, “I’ll kill you, my kids and myself.”

“I never thought — and nobody ever told me — that he would go through killing himself and killing these kids,” Walker told the publication.

She said he tried to end his life in February, and she visited him in the hospital. He wouldn’t say what happened, but his wife was with him. After the suicide attempt, Walker said Elkins, who served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020, began taking medication and doing counseling at a nearby Veterans Affairs hospital. She also recalled that he and his wife had previously accused each other of infidelity, and there was tension over their finances.

While his Facebook page is no longer public, the Times highlighted a prayer he shared on Facebook this month, stating: “Dear God, Today I ask you to help me guard my mind and my emotions.”

Elkins’ mother and stepfather said he shared a photo of his family with them. His mother said she texted him last Tuesday to find out how he and his family were doing, and he replied: “Everyone is doing OK.”

Last Thursday, she said she texted her son a message saying: “I love y’all. Give my grandson and my granddaughters a kiss from grandma. Thanks so much.”

She didn’t get a response, but on Sunday, Jackson said strangers began commenting on his Facebook posts, calling his stepson “the devil.”

Elkins’ mother said she learned of the murders after that.

“Why, God?” she asked as she wept during her interview with the Times. “Why?”

Francine Monro Brown, a cousin of Elkins' wife, told USA Today she was shocked by the murders because Elkin and her cousin were a church-going couple who sang.

"I really can’t believe it. The Pughs are a gospel, church-going family. A singing family,” Brown said as she recalled how Elkins recently took the children to church.

"And they were dressed so cute. All dressed alike," Brown recalled. "The Pugh family is a happy family. A joyous family. I’m not sure what happened. ... I’m asking the nation for prayer. For the kids and the Elkins family.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/louisiana-father-who-killed-8-children-asked-god-for-help.html