8 children killed in mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, police say

Eight children and teens were killed early Sunday in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, authorities said. The suspected shooter is also dead.

Ten people were struck by gunfire in all, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said at a news conference. He described the incident as “domestic in nature” and said authorities believe at least some of those shots were the “descendants” of the shooter.

The ages of the deceased ranged from 1 to approximately 14 years old, Smith said. None of the people killed or injured were identified by name. Some of the injured have been hospitalized, said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux.

The shootings took place at multiple locations in the Louisiana city, including two residences on the same block and a third in another part of the neighborhood, Smith said.

Officers responded to the shooting just after 6 a.m. ET at one of the residences where victims were shot. The suspect fled, carjacked a vehicle nearby and was chased by police. Smith said the suspect was killed after officers involved in that pursuit discharged their firearms.

The suspect was acting on their own, Smith said. The suspect has not yet been identified, but the police chief said his department planned to release a name once necessary notifications were made.

Louisiana State Police said its detectives will investigate the circumstances around the suspect’s death, since it involved an officer. In a statement, the superintendent said investigators were “working to process the scene and gather further information.”

Arceneaux said the shooting “affects the entire community.”

“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” he said, adding, “We all mourn for these families.”

The White House is also monitoring the situation, an official told CBS News. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.