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.

Rhode Island Faces Another Shooting

by Molly Oldread ’26 on February 26, 2026

News

What started out as a community gathering at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, RI,
during a high school hockey game on Monday, Feb. 16, ended in a tragic shooting. Authorities
have stated that the incident has left three dead, including the suspect, along with more people
critically injured.
The tragedy occurred just before 2:30 p.m. while players and families gathered to watch
what was intended to be a Senior Night between the Blackstone Valley Co-Op which includes
players from St. Raphael’s, Providence Country Day, and North Smithfield, against the Coventry
Johnston Co-Op team. Police have reported that the suspect entered the arena as a spectator
and family member of a player before open firing and eventually shooting themselves.
Witnesses at the scene reported that after shots rang out in the arena, players rushed
off the ice while fans dove for cover. One incredible member of the community attempted to
intervene and wrestle with the shooter, which law enforcement has stated helped bring the
tragedy to a quick end.
The suspect has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by
Roberta Esposito. The attack has appeared to stem from a family dispute, although a specific
motive remains unclear. All five victims of the shooting have been identified.
Two of the victims who were killed were Dorgan’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their
adult son, Aidan Dorgan. In addition to these horrific deaths, three others, including Dorgan’s
former mother-in-law, father-in-law, and a family friend, are critically injured as a result of the
shooting. The surviving victims were transferred to Rhode Island Hospital and have been
reported to be in “serious but stable” condition.
Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebein has stated that the city is “mourning together,” while
emphasizing the importance of community as the city recovers. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have been assisting in the investigation, and authorities are
encouraging anyone with footage or information to come forward to help piece together the details of the attack.

Deadly Shooting at ICE Facility

by Molly Oldread ’26 on October 2, 2025

News

On Sept. 24, a shooting occurred at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. The shooting left one detainee dead and two other individuals hospitalized as a result of the gunfire at the facility. The shooter was identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, according to sources close to the case. Jahn used a sniper rifle to open fire on the building from a distance. While his motives remain unknown, it has been confirmed that he was not aiming for any specific location of the building. Law enforcement reported the bullet holes were found all over the building and not localized to any one target.

President Donald Trump claimed the shooting stems from “radical left Democrats constantly demonizing law enforcement,” while Vice President JD Vance also called the event an act of politically motivated violence. Governor Abbott of Texas stated that the shooting will not deter law enforcement from carrying out immigration enforcement. Jahn reportedly used a sniper to open fire on the facility, closely following the assassination of conservative political advocate Charlie Kirk, which was also carried out with a sniper. Since the attempted assassination of President Trump in July 2024, there have been reports of at least seven sniper-involved incidents across the country. Experts told ABC News there have never been so many sniper-related incidents in such a short amount of time, in what they call part of a “frightening trend of rifle-wielding shooters targeting politicians, police, and others from long distances.”

Jahn allegedly had planned this attack for months and opened fire from the roof of a private office building that overlooks the ICE facility. FBI special agent Joe Rothrock reported that Jahn did a high level of planning, including researching where to shoot from and using apps to track ICE agents. This led officials to believe Jahn intended to harm ICE agents more specifically than the detainees. Shell castings found at the scene were engraved similarly to those found at the site of the Charlie Kirk assassination, which were scribed with messages such as “ANTI-ICE” and “Hey fascist! CATCH!” Jahn used an 8 mm bolt-action rifle in the shooting, and left writings which also caused officials to believe he wanted to harm ICE officials and cause terror. Jahn died by self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and investigators say it is very likely he acted alone.