Eight children have been killed in a mass shooting in Louisiana following a “domestic disturbance,” police said Sunday morning.
The children were aged between 1 and 14, according to police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department.
Some of the children killed were related to the suspect, who was shot dead by police, Bordelon said during a press conference from the scene.
In total, 10 people were shot in the violence that took place across multiple residences.
Bordelon said the gunman fled in a stolen vehicle and was fatally shot by officers during a chase in Bossier City.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” Bordelon said.
Shreveport police chief Wayne Smith said he was “taken aback” by the horrifying shooting.
“My heart goes out to this entire community for the tragic event that has taken place this morning,” Smith said. “I just don’t know what to say. My heart is just taken aback. I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur.”
“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux added. “It’s a terrible morning in Shreveport.”
Police said they were still gathering details about the crime scene and Louisiana State Police is also investigating.
The city of Shreveport is in northwestern Louisiana, with a population of around 180,000.
This is a breaking story, more follows
