A 31-year-old man, Shamar Elkins, who fatally shot eight children on Sunday morning in Shreveport, has been identified as the father of seven of the victims.

The eighth child was a cousin of the deceased children.

The victims, aged between three and 11, were killed in a shooting that also left two women seriously injured. A teenager sustained additional injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

According to police, officers responded to reports of gunfire on West 79th Street at about 6:00 a.m. The crime scene spanned two homes on that street and a third residence on nearby Harrison Street.

Authorities said the suspect initially shot a woman on the street before proceeding to a nearby home, where he carried out the attack on the children.

One of the victims managed to escape to a nearby residence and alert the police.

Police spokesperson Chris Bordelon confirmed that officers later shot and killed the suspect during a chase in Bossier Parish. He was the only suspect linked to the incident.