Eight children were killed in a domestic violence shooting spree that spanned at least three locations in Shreveport, La., on Sunday morning, the authorities said.
The gunman, whose name was not immediately released, was fatally shot by officers during a chase, the police said.
The victims ranged in age from 1 to 14, according to Cpl. Chris Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department, who spoke at a news conference.
He said the shooting appeared to be domestic in nature.
Police officers responded to a report of a shooting just after 6 a.m. in the 300 block of West 79th Street, Corporal Bordelon said.
“This is a rather extensive crime scene spanning between two residences here,” he said, adding, “There is also another residence on Harrison Street that is part of this crime scene as well.”
He said that the shooter then took a car by force, and police officers pursued the man in the vehicle into a nearby parish.
The officers opened fire and the gunman was killed, Corporal Bordelon said.
“We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” he said.
He said that some of the children inside one of the residences where the shooting happened were descendants of the gunman.
Because officers were involved in the fatal shooting of the gunman, the Louisiana State Police will handle that portion of the investigation, Corporal Bordelon said.
The conditions of other two people who were shot were not immediately known.
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux of Shreveport said at the news conference. “It’s a terrible morning, and we all mourn for the victims.”
Johnny Diaz is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news from Miami.
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