Who is Shaneiqua Elkins? All we know about Shamar Elkins’ wife and children after horrific Louisiana shooting
Shamar Elkins, an Army veteran, is the suspect of a shooting in Louisiana that resulted in the deaths of eight children, including his own.
The gunman from Louisiana, who took the lives of eight children — seven of whom were his own, was a 31-year-old Army veteran and UPS employee. He had shared a photo of himself with one of his daughters just hours before the tragic events on Sunday. He was killed during the chase as he attempted to flee into neighboring Bossier City.
Shamar Elkins carried out this horrific act at three different locations in Shreveport shortly after 6 a.m. Central Time, according to authorities.
The ages of the deceased children ranged from 3 to 11 years old.
Also Read: Shamar Elkins posted concerning message about wife and marriage days before Louisiana shooting
Louisiana shooting victims identified
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office identified the children 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. Seven of the victims were siblings, while one was their cousin.
In addition, Elkins shot two women — his wife, with whom he has four children, and the mother of his other three children — both of whom were shot in the head and are currently in critical condition, NY Post reported.
According to local Shreveport police, Shamar Elkins reportedly led police on a high speed chase, killed eight of his children and shot his wife, Shaneiqua Elkins, before eventually being killed by responding police officers.#DomesticViolence #tragedy #evil #domesticviolence… pic.twitter.com/tHyJ2pZIU0
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) April 19, 2026
Who is the wife of Louisiana shooting suspect Shamar Elkins?
Shamar Elkins was wed to Shaneiqua Elkins (Shaneiqua Pugh). Shortly after Shamar Elkins was named a suspect in the Louisiana shooting incident, users on social media began searching various platforms to find information about his wife, discovering that Shaneiqua was indeed the person Shamar appeared to be married to. Her social media accounts are filled with snapshots from her life, including one from April 2025, where she shared a photo of herself and Shamar to commemorate their anniversary.
It appears that Shamar and Shaneiqua have been together for an extended period, as evidenced by a post featuring him with his children, which dates back to 2023. On April 10, 2025, she shared a photo announcing her marriage to Shamar on her birthday.
Moreover, on April 10, 2025, the couple celebrated their first anniversary, suggesting that they have been married for two years as of now. Although there is limited information available about her, she has been posting about being alone and leaving for the past two days, as indicated on her Facebook profile.
Similarly, Shamar Elkins has also been sharing posts about spending time with his children and maintaining strength, among other topics, before his involvement in the crime and subsequent shooting by the police.
Shamar Elkins, a troubled Army veteran, killed his seven children and a cousin in a shooting spree in Shreveport.
Shamar Elkins, the disturbed Army veteran who tragically took the lives of his seven children and their cousin, admitted to being overwhelmed by “dark thoughts”. He informed his stepfather that certain individuals “do not return from their demons” just weeks prior to the horrific killing, the New York Times reported.
Elkins, aged 31, killed eight children — including five girls and three boys aged between 3 and 11 — and inflicted serious injuries on two women, believed to be his wife and girlfriend, during a shooting spree in Shreveport following a dispute with his spouse at approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday.
On Easter Sunday, Elkins reached out to his mother, Mahelia Elkins, and his stepfather, Marcus Jackson, and ominously expressed that he was overwhelmed by “dark thoughts,” wished to take his own life, and mentioned that his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh (Elkins), was seeking a divorce, as per the New York Times.
“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” Elkins stepfather told the publication. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”
Shamar Elkins and court appearance
Mahelia Elkins expressed uncertainty regarding the issues her son and his wife were facing, according to the Times. They were married in 2024 and had four children together.
However, a relative of one of the injured women said that the couple was undergoing separation proceedings and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
According to Crystal Brown, who spoke to the Associated Press, they had been in a dispute about the dissolution of their relationship when Elkins — who was subsequently shot by police — began firing.
Shamar Elkins’ profession
The father, who was identified as the shooter, was employed at UPS and had served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020, holding the positions of signal support system specialist and fire support specialist, as stated by the Times.
A coworker from UPS described Elkins as a committed father, but noted that he frequently appeared stressed and would pull out his hair, resulting in a noticeable bald spot, according to the publication.
The majority of the victims were shot in the head while they were asleep, Shreveport Police Department spokesman Christopher Bordelon told NBC News.
According to police, one child was fatally shot on the roof while attempting to flee.
Elkins, who was subsequently killed by police during an attempted carjacking, also shot and injured two women — the mothers of his children and his reported girlfriend— amid his violent rampage.
