Full police press conference: 8 children killed in Louisiana mass shooting

[0:00] Good morning, we're gonna start, we're gonna give some initial information what [0:04] we have and I want to start with this is all preliminary information. [0:08] This is a very large scene with four specific locations that we are currently [0:13] addressing events early this morning. [0:16] This morning officers responded to a shooting that occurred just after 6am. [0:22] In doing so, we've determined that this was a domestic call in nature. [0:27] The responding officers located a crime scene here in the 300 block of West 79th Street. [0:34] This is a rather extensive crime scene spanning between two residences here. [0:38] There is also another residence on Harrison Street that is part of this crime scene as well. [0:45] Right now we have at least 10 individuals that were struck by gunfire last night [0:51] in a domestic disturbance. [0:53] Eight of these individuals are deceased. [0:56] The ranges of the decedents are from one years of age to approximately 15 years of age. [1:02] All of the deceased in this case are juvenile. [1:06] The individual responsible, once leaving this scene, performed a carjacking right here in [1:12] close proximity to the corner of West 79th and Linwood, at which point in time Shreveport [1:19] Police Patrol officers got behind that vehicle and they chased it. [1:24] The vehicle was chased into Bossier Parish, and at which point in time Shreveport Police [1:28] Officers did discharge their firearm and that individual is deceased. [1:33] We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here. [1:39] He is deceased and Louisiana State Police will be taking over that portion in which the Shreveport [1:44] Police Officers discharged their firearms. [1:46] So we don't have any more information on the shooting that occurred in Bossier. [1:50] What we can tell you is this is a domestic disturbance here in the 300 block of West 79th Street. [1:55] This is a very large scene with multiple deceased children present, and so we're going to ask for [2:03] patience in us getting information out. [2:06] We will release the name of the suspect that is deceased when we have made the proper notifications. [2:12] We do know that some of the children inside were his descendants, and so once we are sure [2:18] of everyone's names and ages and proper channels have been notified, we'll be releasing all of that information. [2:24] But we did want you to come on and give what information we have available. [2:28] So at this point in time, I'd like to bring the mayor, because I know he has some words, [2:31] and he's been here since the airport. [2:36] Thank you, Chris. [2:38] Whenever we have a situation like this, the words of the poet John Dunn always come to mind. [2:45] No man is an idol known to himself. [2:48] So, therefore, never ask for a hundred bell tollers who told us to forbid. [2:54] We're hurting the community. [2:55] We have hurting families. [2:57] We have hurting police officers, foreigners personnel, fire department, sheriff people. [3:04] And this affects the entire community. [3:06] So we all mourn with these families. [3:09] It's a Sunday morning. [3:11] And I ask all of you who are listening, who might be able to pray at your services this morning for not just this family, but for all the victims, for the victims who are at the hospital and for the Cedar Grove community and for the community at large, as well as police officers, [3:32] carters, carters, fire department, Cattle Parish Sheriff's office. [3:39] This is a tragic situation. [3:41] Maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had and sued for. [3:45] And so, right now, we're going to process the information. [3:49] It is in very good hands. [3:51] But it's a terrible morning in Shreveport and we all mourn with the victory. [3:56] My heart goes out to this entire community. [4:07] But the tragic event that has taken place this morning, I just don't know what to say tonight. [4:13] My heart is just taken aback. [4:16] I just cannot begin to imagine how such an event can occur. [4:25] I want to let the community know that all of my resources are out here processing every piece of evidence and every scene. [4:36] And at some time in the near future, we'll be able to give some more inclusive information about exactly what took place. [4:46] I want to thank the agencies that have reached out to me this morning and offered their assistance. [4:52] Thank you so much, the Cattle Parish Sheriff's Department, the Regan State Police Department, and all that have either came out to help or called and offered their assistance. [5:05] But we're going to be working diligently however long it takes to get some answers to what is taking place. [5:15] Hey, hey, hey. [5:18] As Chief Smith indicated, we will release more information when it's available. [5:21] We will be working closely with the Foreigner's Office. [5:23] So look for some information, hopefully by tomorrow, on the information in regards to the eight children. [5:31] And just please keep this community and these officers in your call to prayer. [5:35] As the mayor indicated, this is an extensive scene, a delightful thing that most of us have ever seen. [5:42] As soon as we have information, we have three questions. [5:47] Chris, can you give the exact address of like where this occurred, the shooting occurred? [5:51] Well, so you have three different scenes. [5:53] The shooting itself occurred just down the road up here in the 300 block of West 79. [5:57] And there's also another shooting related to this on Harrison Street. [6:01] And then there's an adjacent resident on West 79. [6:04] We're wanting to get those grants to meet after the shooting. [6:07] So it is an extensive season. [6:09] And once we have all of the information, maybe the best we can do is it's deadly. [6:14] Chris, what time did all of this just start? [6:17] Early morning hours. [6:19] The initial domestic dispute is somewhere in the 5 o'clock hour, I believe. [6:23] But once I have a timeline, we'll detail that on the question. [6:27] Have you ever seen anything like this in your years with working, Chris? [6:30] This is an unlikely thing. [6:33] I've never heard people say it. [6:34] I'd like anything to say. [6:35] I know you said you can't release the name of the suspect yet, but can you give the age? [6:40] Was he a juvenile? [6:41] Was he an adult? [6:42] No, the suspect was an adult. [6:43] If you don't get that information out, it's not possible. [6:49] And you said it happened at multiple locations? [6:51] Gunfire happened at multiple locations? [6:53] Yes, that is. [6:54] How many locations exactly? [6:56] So, Harrison Street address, we know there's a shooting there. [6:59] There's multiple deceased persons here in the 300 block of West 79. [7:04] And then the shooting that occurred in Motrin County. [7:07] So we have several crime scenes. [7:08] And we really want to thank Louisiana State Police, Motrin, [7:12] and our friends with Cadillac Sheriff's Office. [7:15] This type of vaccine requires a lot of resources. [7:19] Requires a lot of officers. [7:21] This is thoroughly investigated. [7:22] We can do the best we can to try to understand. [7:25] And that's the way it is. [7:26] I don't know. [7:27] Whatever. [7:28] Okay. [7:29] So we can do the best we can to explain it. [7:31] We can get whatever closure we can get to other families. [7:34] And you're sure they're all connected? [7:37] All the scenes? [7:38] Yes, absolutely. [7:39] These scenes are undoubtedly connected. [7:40] There is no, right now there is no public safety threat. [7:43] We know he conducted this violence and that individual was deceased. [7:48] Are you able to share a motive at this time? [7:50] We just know it's an investigation. [7:52] Thank you all. [7:53] Thank you. [7:54] Thank you. [7:55] Thank you. [7:56] Thank you.