A Louisiana man fatally shot eight children—seven of them his own—in a devastating attack Sunday morning that unfolded across two homes in a Shreveport neighborhood, police said.

Two women, including the suspect’s wife and the mother of his children, were also shot and remain in critical condition, according to Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon. Authorities said the children, who were all found in the same residence, ranged in age from 3 to 11.

The suspect, identified as Shamar Elkins, 31, died following a police pursuit that ended when officers opened fire, officials said.

Investigators have not determined a motive but believe the incident was a domestic matter. “We are confident this was entirely a domestic incident,” Bordelon said.

The shooting is among the deadliest in the United States in recent years.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith expressed shock over the tragedy. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur,” he said.

Police noted that Elkins had a prior arrest in a 2019 firearms case but said there were no known prior domestic violence reports involving him.

According to an Army official, Elkins previously served for seven years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, leaving in 2020 without deployment.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.