Man claims gun used by Louisiana shooter was stolen after charges

A man who once possessed the firearm involved in the tragic killing of eight children in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, claims that Shamar Elkins, identified as the suspect by law enforcement, took it from his vehicle weeks before the incident occurred, officials announced.

Charles Ford, a 56-year-old resident of Shreveport, eventually confessed his suspicion that Elkins obtained the assault-style weapon after initially misleading investigators, as reported by the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Louisiana, Ford informed investigators that he suspected Elkins, who was the father of seven of the deceased children, because Elkins was one of the few individuals who travelled with him. Allegedly, Ford mentioned noticing the firearm was gone around March 9.

Ford disclosed that he confronted Elkins regarding the missing weapon. However, when Elkins became "aggressive," Ford "decided to drop it," as per a court affidavit filed on Tuesday.

This affidavit supports federal charges against Ford, who is now facing accusations of being a felon in possession of a firearm and providing false information to federal authorities, both allegedly tied to the firearm Elkins used in the shooting, according to the attorney's office.

The office stated that officials interviewed the person who initially bought the firearm, shown below, and that individual confirmed she handed it to Ford.

Shreveport police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms have started tracing the gun's history.

Based on court documents, Ford initially denied owning the gun when questioned by investigators following the Sunday shooting.

"Elkins' demise means our community won't witness him facing justice," stated US Attorney Zachary A. Keller.

"As we persist in investigating and prosecuting this matter with our law enforcement collaborators, our goal is to hold the person whose firearm Elkins used accountable, bringing a small measure of comfort to our Shreveport community."

Ford currently lacks an appointed legal counsel and is anticipated to receive a federal public defender, as per federal court records.

A lawyer who formerly represented Ford wasn't immediately available for comments.

Attempts to reach Ford's relatives via other phone numbers linked to him were not successful.

Elkins lost his life after a pursuit with law enforcement. It remains uncertain whether officers' bullets or a self-inflicted shot caused his death, according to police reports.

Elkins' wife and another woman also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, which took place across two homes before dawn.

Authorities stated the deceased children — three boys and five girls — were aged between 3 and 11 years old.

According to legal documents, Elkins admitted guilt in 2019 for a felony involving the illegal use of firearms.

Consequently, a Caddo Parish district judge imposed an 18-month supervised probation on Elkins, during which he surrendered his handgun to the police, as outlined in court filings.

Louisiana law prohibits individuals convicted of specific violent felonies — such as the illegal use of firearms — from possessing guns for a minimum of 10 years following the completion of their sentence and probation.

Authorities have not clarified whether Elkins was legally barred from firearm possession.

The tragic event in Louisiana represents one of the nation's most lethal mass shootings in recent history.