A Louisiana mother who lost three of her children in a Shreveport shooting rampage last month is urging the public to stop spreading rumors as she struggles to process what she calls an “unimaginable loss.”
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Christina Snow was shot in the face on April 19 when the children’s father, Shemar Elkins, opened fire in what authorities described as a domestic violence incident. Elkins killed all eight of his children across the rampage before being shot and killed by police. Elkins’ wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, was also wounded.
The children were identified by their mothers 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 office said.
Snow asked the public for privacy in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening. She wrote urging people to refrain from “spreading rumors, reposting painful content, and turning our tragedy into social media conversations.”
“These were real children with real lives, real dreams, and a family that loved them deeply,” she wrote. “I do not have the strength to entertain negativity, opinions, or unnecessary drama while trying to bury and mourn my babies.”
The post was one of a series of posts made by Snow in the last few days, including multiple posts honoring the children who were killed and one that said Snow would be pulling back from speaking publicly about the tragedy.
“Thank you to everyone who has genuinely supported me through this, prayed for me, checked on me, and stood beside me during difficult moments,” Snow wrote in a post. “I see you and appreciate you more than words can express. All the prayers in the comments keeps me going everyday.”
Officers responded to the shooting after 6 a.m. on April 19 following reports of a domestic disturbance. Authorities learned that Elkins first shot a woman on nearby Harrison Street before he headed to the home on West 79th Street, where he killed all the children.
He then carjacked a person at gunpoint to flee the area, and was pursued by police into neighboring Bossier Parish. Police said that the officers “were forced to discharge” their weapons and that Elkins was killed in the incident.
Police said that Elkins, who served in the Louisiana Army National Guard for seven years, had a 2019 arrest and conviction of illegal use of a firearm, which likely prohibited him from legally owning firearms.
Relatives said Elkins had recently sought mental health treatment from the local Veteran Affairs medical center, where he stayed for more than a week.