Tragic Mass Shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on April 23, 2026

News

On Sunday, April 19, a shocking act of violence occurred in Shreveport, LA. In a place known for its rich culture and southern hospitality, this mass shooting came as a devastating shock to the community. A gunman named Shamar Elkins killed eight children—including seven of his own—and injured two others early Sunday morning. He previously served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2013–2020. This was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since January of 2024, though there have been at least 114 mass shootings this year.

The victims ranged from three to 12 years old. The children’s names were Jayla Elkins, Shalya Elkins, Kayla Pugh, Layla Pugh, Markaydon Pugh, Sariahh Snow, Khedarrion Snow, and Braylon Snow. The mother of Elkin’s children, as well as another woman, were also shot, but survived with serious injuries.

The motivation for the killings remains unknown and many people are left wondering what could have caused this tragedy to occur. Elkins and his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, were in the middle of separating and were arguing with one another before the shooting. The gunman is reported to have been struggling with his mental health, having recently expressing suicidal thoughts. On Easter Sunday, he reportedly told his mother and stepfather that he “wanted to take his own life.”

Shamar Elkins carjacked a vehicle and led the police on a chase before they fatally shot him. The Shreveport police chief, Wayne Smith, stated, “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback.” Mayor of Shreveport, Tom Arceneaux, referred to the shooting as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.” Arceneaux also stated, “There are no words that can make sense of it, and no distance that shields us from it. We must not ignore the deeper issues—violence in the home, untreated trauma, and the silence that allows both to grow.” Many people, including City Council Member of Shreveport Tabatha Taylor, have been calling on the community to make resources more available to those who are struggling with their mental health.

Just three days before the shooting in Shreveport, former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then took his own life with their children present in their home. Mass shootings and gun violence more generally reflect a deeply troubling trajectory and reality for our country as well as the victims, community members, and families affected.

The City of Providence and its Resilience Following the Brown University Shooting

by Sarah McCall ’26 on January 22, 2026

News

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the city of Providence faced a tragedy when Claudio Manuel Neves Valente opened fire on a Brown University final review session, killing two students and injuring nine. Ella Cook, a sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman, were the two victims who lost their lives that day. Neves Valente was identified after a five-day manhunt, which resulted in the discovery of his body in a New Hampshire storage facility. Additionally, he was connected to the murder of an MIT professor, Nuno Loureiro, which was committed just two days after the shooting at Brown. Neves Valente was a former graduate student at Brown, originally enrolled in the fall of 2000. During this five-day stretch, fear coursed through members of the Providence community. Brown students remained in lockdown late into the night as the search continued to find the unidentified shooter.

This fear was not limited to the Brown campus. In an age of mass gun violence, students nationally are familiar with the dangers of a school shooting. The Providence Public School District reported a 20 percent absence rate on Monday, Dec. 15, even with assurance from officials that there was no active threat against Providence Public Schools. Additionally, students at Providence College remained sheltered in their dorms and off-campus houses waiting for potential news updates with no official shelter in place order administered.

Around the state of Rhode Island, colleges and universities altered their final exam schedules due to continued fear and uncertainty. The University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, and Providence College canceled all in-person exams due to safety concerns. Each university provided other options for final grades, such as the option for an online exam, a postponed exam date, or an alternative assignment.

As the news continued to unfold, the Providence College campus experienced extensive changes. The normally bustling campus filled with students studying for finals became filled with cars moving students out quicker than anticipated. The security at the gates was increased, with increased surveillance on who was entering campus and for what reason. As the week continued and students left, different parts of campus began to close sooner than expected. Ruane Cafe, Eaton Street Cafe, Diane Parrett R.N. Cafe, Alumni Dining, and the Concannon Fitness Center either limited their hours or closed for the remainder of the semester. Saint Dominic Chapel also limited its services and confession times for the remainder of the semester.

Following this tragic event, the resilience of the Providence community was made clear. Two Brown University sophomores were shopping at Trader Joe’s when they received news of the shooting. The Trader Joe’s employees cooked the students dinner, paid for their hotel, and drove them to the hotel as the Brown campus remained closed. Additionally, RIPTA drivers spent the night of Dec. 13 shuttling students to safety. One RIPTA driver, David St. Germain, recounted driving hundreds of kids until 3 a.m. the following morning. He, along with eight other drivers, jumped right to action. St. Germain said that he was “just there to help” and “would have stayed later if they’d needed me.” The bravery of St. Germain, the first responders, and all of the Providence citizens who came together to support each other is remarkable and a reflection of the spirit of the city. Although nothing can fully repair the damage caused, the Providence community came out of this tragedy stronger than ever, reflecting the Rhode Island state flag, which proudly displays the word “hope” as the state’s motto.