A man is facing federal charges tied to the weapon used in a devastating shooting in Shreveport, LA over the weekend that left eight children dead. Authorities say Charles Ford, 56, a convicted felon, has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and lying to federal investigators about the rifle connected to the April 19 attack.
According to officials, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins carried out the shooting across two homes in what investigators describe as a domestic violence incident. He later died following a police pursuit. Seven of the victims—ranging in age from 3 to 11—were identified as his own children. The eighth child was also killed in the violence. Two women, including the children’s mother, were seriously wounded but are expected to survive.
Federal investigators say the firearm was traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local police. Ford initially denied having the weapon but later admitted he had kept it under the seat of his truck and believed Elkins had taken it weeks before the attack. He told authorities he noticed the gun missing around early March and suspected Elkins, one of the few people who had been in his vehicle. When he confronted him, Elkins allegedly became “offensive,” and Ford chose not to pursue the matter further.
Officials also determined the rifle had originally been purchased by another individual who later gave it to Ford. Despite being legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his criminal record, Ford kept the weapon, which prosecutors say ultimately ended up in Elkins’ hands. ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson said that “holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger but also includes those who give access to and proliferate firearms that are later used in violent crime.”
Elkins, who previously served in the Louisiana National Guard, had a prior felony conviction related to weapons and had been sentenced to probation in 2019. Under state law, that conviction could have barred him from legally possessing a firearm for years afterward, though officials have not confirmed his status at the time of the shooting. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said in a statement: “Elkins’ death means that our community will never see him face justice. Our hope, as we continue to investigate and prosecute this case alongside our law enforcement partners, is that holding the person whose gun Elkins used to perpetrate the crime accountable will give some small bit of solace to our Shreveport community.”
Investigators say Elkins had been dealing with personal turmoil in the weeks leading up to the shooting, including reported marital issues, financial stress, and troubling mental health struggles, according to family members. Meanwhile, Ford now faces up to 15 years in prison for the firearm charge and an additional five years for making false statements. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
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