Eight children were killed in a mass shooting Sunday morning that Shreveport police are describing as a domestic dispute, KSLA-TV reports.
(Click below to listen to the details from the Shreveport Police Chief.)
The victims range in age from 18 months to between 13 and 14 years old, according to Shreveport Police.
Police Chief Wayne Smith said 10 people total were shot. Two survivors are adult women. one of whom was shot in the head.
Police pursued the suspect into Bossier City, where the adult man exchanged gunfire with police and was fatally shot. No police officers were injured in the exchange.
The suspect is believed to be related to some of the children and was in a relationship with one of the survivors, according to police.
The fatal shootings took place between 5 and 6 a.m. at two separate addresses in the Cedar Grove neighborhood.
Louisiana State Police is now leading the investigation as the incident now spans two parishes and includes an officer-involved shooting.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux called Sunday morning’s events “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.”
This is a developing story.