Shamar Elkins dies following car chase after killing seven of his children

A mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, has left eight children dead and two women wounded following a series of attacks on Sunday.

Authorities identified the gunman as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, a former member of the Louisiana Army National Guard.

The violence spanned two separate locations, beginning on Harrison Street and concluding at a rental property on West 79th Street.

Shreveport police received the first emergency call just before 6:00 am. Upon arriving at the West 79th Street address, officers discovered a horrific scene.

"There's blood and bodies everywhere," Corporal Christopher Bordelon told PEOPLE. "Some were shot in the bed, some were shot trying to get away."

Seven of the eight victims were Elkins' own children, ranging in age from three to eleven. Investigators believe the suspect initially attacked a woman, believed to be his girlfriend, on Harrison Street before forcing three children into a car and transporting them to the second location to be executed.

Elkins’ wife was also wounded during the assault on the primary residence. Following the massacre, the suspect carjacked a vehicle and fled toward Bossier City.

He died at the conclusion of a police pursuit, though officials are still determining if he was shot by officers or died by suicide. Two firearms, including an assault-style pistol, were recovered from the scene.

Corporal Bordelon stated that Elkins appeared intent on killing everyone in the house, describing the act as "illogical."

The tragedy has been labelled the worst incident in the city's history, leaving the local community in deep mourning.