Shreveport Massacre: Deadliest US Mass Shooting in Over Two Years

Shreveport, Louisiana — A mass shooting at a residence in Shreveport, Louisiana, on the morning of April 20, 2026, left 15 people dead, including eight children, according to local law enforcement and the Gun Violence Archive. The incident is being investigated as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in over two years.

Authorities identified the suspect as a 32-year-old man who lived at the home where the shooting occurred. Seven of the eight children killed were his biological offspring, while the eighth was a relative. The remaining victims included six adults, among them the suspect’s parents and other family members.

Shreveport Police Department officials confirmed that emergency responders were dispatched to the gray-colored house in the Highland neighborhood shortly after 6:00 a.m. Local time following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found multiple victims inside and outside the residence. The suspect was apprehended at the scene without further incident.

Police have not released a motive for the shooting, stating that the investigation remains active and ongoing. They have confirmed that the suspect legally purchased the firearms used in the attack and that no prior criminal record or known history of mental health treatment was on file at the time of purchase.

The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun-related incidents across the United States using police reports, media sources, and public records, classified the event as a mass shooting — defined as an incident where four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter. According to their data, this incident marks the deadliest such event since a 2023 shooting in Monterey Park, California, which resulted in 11 fatalities.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims and pledging state support for the investigation. “This is a horrific act of violence that has shattered a family and traumatized a community,” the governor said. “We will ensure that every resource is made available to bring clarity to this tragedy and to support those left behind.”

President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident and called for renewed action on gun violence prevention. In a statement from the White House, he urged Congress to pass universal background check legislation and to close loopholes that allow individuals to bypass federal firearm restrictions. “Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” the president said. “We must act to prevent further loss of life.”

Community leaders in Shreveport organized a vigil later that evening at a local park, where residents gathered to mourn the victims and call for peace. Counselors and crisis response teams were deployed by the Louisiana Department of Health to assist survivors and first responders.

As of the latest update, the suspect remains in custody at the Caddo Parish Correctional Center, facing multiple counts of first-degree murder. No court date has been set, and prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek the death penalty.