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Funeral in Shreveport
A funeral at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La., honored eight children killed in the April 19 mass shooting, with the service beginning on Mother’s Day weekend and featuring a long procession past eight white caskets with large photos.
“The service on Mother’s Day weekend at Summer Grove Baptist Church began with a long procession”
The Associated Press reported that the victims included seven siblings shot by their father in an attack that also killed their cousin, and that the children ranged in age from 3 to 11.
Bishop Bernard Kimble, senior pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, opened the service by telling mourners, "In spite of how you may be feeling today, we still need to know that God is still good,".
Pastor and gospel singer Kim Burrell reminded the crowd that "To ask the question, ‘Why is this fair, God? How could you, Lord?’ He’s still God," as the city reeled from the killings.
The children’s father, Shamar Elkins, used an assault-style weapon despite a 2019 felony firearms conviction, and AP said Elkins died after fleeing and a police pursuit.
Speakers and state mourning
Shreveport Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor acknowledged that "there are no words sufficient to ease this pain," while Councilman James Green implored the audience to collectively "take off our funeral face" because "this is a celebration" of the children’s lives.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff over the next week at the Capitol and state government buildings, and the AP report said a message from Landry described the victims as "the light of their homes and the heart of their classrooms."
The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate described the funeral as an "Eternal Eight" gathering, with hundreds of family members, officials, clergy members and regular folks on hand at Summer Grove Baptist Church.
In a separate local account, the Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate said State Sen. Sam Jenkins read Gov. Jeff Landry's proclamation that flags in Louisiana will fly at half-staff from Saturday until May 17, one day for each child.
The KSLA report also described a visitation on May 8 at Precious Memories Mortuary, where Kelvin Gadson said, "When I heard about what happened to the babies, everything dropped, my heart stopped, and I had to get here,".
Ongoing investigation and aftermath
Authorities said the shooting stretched across two houses in a Shreveport neighborhood, and AP reported that Elkins’ wife, who was seeking a divorce, and another woman were wounded.
“An investigation remains ongoing into the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.”
AP said it was not clear whether Elkins was killed by officers who fired or from a self-inflicted gunshot, and that an investigation remains ongoing into the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.
The Washington Post described the funeral as a moment the city had been girding itself for since the frantic morning when the father of seven of the children methodically shot them in their bedrooms.
People reported that the children were 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, and that the April 19 attack also killed their cousin.
In the aftermath, People said Shamar carjacked a man at gunpoint and tried to flee, and that officers located the vehicle, began chasing Elkins, and then fatally shot him in Bossier Parish, about 30 miles from Caddo Parish where Shreveport is located.
