Louisiana shooting latest I Searched - April 20, 2026

[0:05] Oh, it's good to see you. I'm Gio Benitez. It's Monday, April 20th. You've got questions. We've [0:09] got answers. This is Searched, where we're breaking down what you're asking right now [0:13] in real time. So let's get right to it. We've got our Maya Ephraim right here. [0:17] She oversees her online search threads. And Maya, what are people searching for right now? [0:22] Hi, Gio. Terribly tragic news out of Louisiana this weekend. Police say eight children were [0:27] found fatally shot following a domestic violence call. Police have identified Shamar Elkins as [0:32] the gunman who killed the children and wounded two women. Elkins died after a police pursuit [0:36] and shootout. Elkins was the father of seven of the children. Moving to the Middle East, [0:41] tensions between Washington and Tehran have reached a boiling point just a few days before the [0:45] ceasefire expires. The U.S. military confirmed it seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Strait of [0:50] Hormuz. And President Trump said the vessel was targeted for violating sanctions. Now people are [0:55] searching where the ceasefire and peace talks stand. And finally, Japan was struck by a powerful [1:00] 7.4 magnitude earthquake today, triggering immediate evacuations and tsunami warnings. [1:06] Search interest has been extremely high for videos of the earthquake. And it also sparked [1:09] a surge in related searches for the tragic 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 [1:15] people across Japan. Yeah, that really is tragic. Some big, big stories here in search right now. [1:20] Maya, thank you so much. But first, let's go ahead and dive a little deeper now into one of the top [1:24] searches of the day, that horrific Louisiana shooting that left eight children dead. Armando Garcia has [1:29] been following the story for us from our New York newsroom. Armando, first tell us what happened [1:34] here. Well, it's a heartbreaking story, Gio. 31-year-old Shamar Elkins is accused of killing [1:42] eight children, including seven of his own, all between the ages of three and 11 years old. They [1:48] say that on early Sunday, this, what they're calling a domestic violence incident, sprawled across [1:54] multiple crime scenes, multiple homes involved. And we also know that two of the women who were [1:59] injured during this incident were mothers to some of those children as well. An Army official tells [2:06] ABC News that Elkins is somebody who had served seven years in the Louisiana Army National Guard. [2:12] This is somebody who left the Army in 2020 as a private, was never deployed. But investigators are [2:17] still combing for answers and trying to figure out why this happened. Yeah, it's really so hard to wrap [2:22] your brain around all of this. How are those two women who were injured, how are they doing? Do we know? [2:26] Well, the two women remain at the hospital recovering. One woman is still in critical [2:32] condition after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. And we also know from a police presser earlier [2:37] today that there was also another child who was injured, trying to flee the chaos, trying to flee [2:43] the shooting by jumping off a roof, Gio. I mean, prayers for all of these families, just horrific, [2:49] horrific here. They were responding. That's what police say, that they were responding [2:53] to a domestic violence call. That's right. And look, the question on everybody's mind is why did [3:02] this happen, right? The community of Shreveport is reeling from this, asking how could this happen [3:08] in our community? Prayers are, of course, pouring in from all over the world, really, on this, including [3:14] from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents the district, where this happened. But the number one [3:19] question is, why did this happen? Police say it was a domestic violence incident. Of course, people want to [3:24] know a little bit more. But so far, investigators have not been able to determine that. [3:29] All right. Armando Garcia, thank you so much for that. Really awful. All right. So we've got the [3:32] latest now on the war with Iran and what's going on with that ship seizure in the Strait of Hormuz. [3:37] So we've got Christian Cordero here following this all from our D.C. newsroom. All right. So Christian, [3:42] so tell us, people want to know, why did the U.S. seize that ship? Hey, Gio, great to be with you. [3:47] So it has to do with that blockade the U.S. has on the Strait of Hormuz as both the U.S. and Iran try to [3:54] kind of increase their control in that region. And when it came to this particular cargo ship, [3:59] the U.S. says that, you know, we essentially gave this cargo ship repeated warnings over a six-hour [4:05] time frame is what the central command says. And when that didn't work, then they essentially [4:11] went on and the Marines took over the ship. And you can see the video right there released by [4:17] CENTCOM. It's now in U.S. custody and being searched, Gio. So is the Strait of Hormuz still [4:24] operational right now? What's going on? So the short answer is yes and the long answer is no. And [4:29] essentially what happened is the Strait of Hormuz being open was part of the terms of the ceasefire [4:35] itself. And so technically, technically, yes, it is open. But practically speaking, can ships get through [4:40] is a much more complex question. It's another issue entirely because both Iran and the U.S., as I mentioned, [4:46] are asserting their control over who passes through, when and under what circumstances. So the U.S. [4:51] is blocking anyone from doing business with Iran, really trying to choke them economically. Iran says [4:57] any vessel can go through, but you have to coordinate with us first, which is really not as simple as it [5:02] sounds. And we've seen that play out several different ways over the past week or so. Yeah, this is not [5:07] simple at all. Okay, so there's also searches right now for the status of the peace talks. What happens after the U.S.-Iran [5:13] ceasefire actually ends? It's scheduled to end on Wednesday. If there's no agreement, even an [5:19] extension of the ceasefire, which the president has said he's not particularly interested in doing, [5:24] then it's safe to say that the fighting will resume. And then, of course, you have those other [5:28] questions about what happens with this fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The next 48 hours, [5:34] you can't overstate how crucial they are. Two U.S. officials tell ABC News Vice President Vance is [5:39] expected to travel to Pakistan tomorrow for another round of negotiations with Iran. [5:44] But a little bit of a unique scenario here, Gio, in that we're not actually sure that Iran is [5:48] actually going to come to the table because publicly anyways, they have said that they're not ready to [5:53] talk. They're not ready to talk. And people also want to know what does Trump actually want from [5:57] Iran once this war actually ends or to end this war? In order to end the war itself, the president has [6:04] said that he wants a long-term nuclear deal. And we remember, right, a couple weeks ago, a little bit [6:10] less than that, when Vice President Vance was last in Pakistan, the conversations, negotiations fell [6:16] apart because, according to sources who were familiar with those talks, the U.S. asked Iran to put a 20-year [6:22] freeze on enriching uranium to build, eventually, nuclear weapons. And Iran said no. They would only agree to a [6:29] five-year deal. And so it's reasonable to expect that that is essentially where conversations would [6:34] pick up. But if they actually get across the finish line, that will be a tremendous feat. [6:39] Yeah, that uranium is a big question right now. Christian, thank you so much for that. [6:43] All right. So our foreign correspondent Tom Sufi-Burge is in London right now. He's following that story [6:47] about a powerful earthquake in Japan. So, Tom, people are asking a lot of questions about this quake. [6:52] Where exactly was it? Yeah, it was out at sea, Gio, about 60 miles off Japan's northeastern coastline. [7:01] Okay. So just off the coastline there, was there any damage or any injuries? What do we know? [7:06] Yeah, thankfully, minimal damage, minimal injuries. I've only seen one report of one man [7:11] injured by falling debris. But, Gio, I mean, the real fear was for tsunamis. And basically, Japan put out [7:18] tsunami warnings along a large swathe of its eastern coastline, telling people to evacuate quickly, [7:24] move to higher ground. Those warnings went out pretty much immediately, sirens sounding in parts of that [7:30] coastline. And there was a fear that there could be waves of about 10 feet coming in. Thankfully, [7:37] that fear wasn't realized. In the end, that the waves were about three foot in height. [7:42] So is there still a tsunami warning? [7:45] No, they were downgraded about a few hours after the earthquake hit, Gio, out at sea, [7:50] downgraded to an advisory. So people keep keeping people on their toes. But I think, you know, [7:55] Japan has a history of earthquakes. And, you know, they weren't taking any, you know, [8:02] they weren't taking anything for granted. And they definitely were warning people quickly just to get [8:07] away from those coastal areas. And I think there were, for a matter of hours, a real sense of unease [8:12] in those three northern prefectures around the area close to the earthquake. [8:18] Now, Tom, I know you're not a scientist. We know that. We get it. But tell us right now, [8:22] because a lot of people are searching right now about why Japan gets so many earthquakes. [8:27] What do we know there? [8:28] Thanks for qualifying my lack of expertise here, Gio. No, no. I mean, think back to your [8:34] geography classes, right? We all know about tectonic plates. Effectively, underneath Japan [8:39] or near to Japan, a number of the Earth's tectonic plates intersect. Those tectonic plates are [8:45] constantly moving. They're only moving like a few centimeters every year. But when they move, [8:50] there's points of friction that can be like uneven movements. And that's why you get so many [8:54] earthquakes in that particular part of the globe. [8:56] Okay. So you've got your professor head on. You're pretty good at that. Tell us about the [8:59] travel, though. Is it safe to travel to Japan? [9:01] Yeah, I think it is. I mean, look, I mean, they are warning that in the coming days, Gio, [9:05] there is a heightened risk of a mega quake because we've just had this earthquake. But if you look at [9:12] the probabilities that Japanese agencies are putting out here, puts it into context. So they're saying [9:17] that in normal times, there would be a 0.01 percent chance of a mega quake. And now there is [9:25] a 1 percent chance of a mega quake. So, you know, I mean, we're still talking about a very, [9:31] very small probability. But clearly, the authorities will be keeping themselves on their toes. [9:35] Tom Sufi Burridge, PhD. Thank you so much for all of your help and guidance. We appreciate it, [9:40] my man. All right. So we just ran through your top searches. But what else is on your timeline? [9:43] Let's get right back to Maya here. So, Maya, what are the other stories trending right now? [9:48] Gio, this is going to be a little bit of a brighter note. The 130th Boston Marathon finished [9:53] with a performance for the History Books. Kenyon run-on John Correr dominated the men's field, [9:58] winning with a time of two hours, one minute and 52 seconds. This officially shatters the Boston [10:04] course records and stands as the fifth fastest marathon time ever recorded. Correa was joined by [10:10] fellow Kenyon Sharon Locchetti, who successfully defended her title in the women's division. [10:14] And Jess McLean also made headlines by setting a new course record for American women in Boston. [10:20] 26.2 miles in two hours. I can't even begin to imagine, Gio. I don't know how they do it. [10:25] Absolutely. All right. That was a bright note. Maya, thank you for that. We really appreciate that. [10:29] Coming up here, one search always leads to another. And we've got a trending topic, [10:32] but that is just the surface. We're talking hot politics because it's 420. That's a spiral, [10:38] and it's next. And welcome back to Search. Today's top searches are only part of the story. A simple [10:51] scroll can sometimes take you down that deep, deep rabbit hole. It's time now for the spiral. [11:03] Okay. So today you guys are asking questions about real shocker cannabis. It's 420. We're [11:09] following your clicks and your curiosity. And it looks like you guys want to know about the [11:12] classification and legalization and what to know about weed and how it could impact your health. [11:18] So let's break it down right now. We've got cannabis CEO, Kim Rivers right here. But up first, [11:23] we also have our Dr. Darian Sutton also talking about all things health. It is good to see you [11:28] both. So, Kim, let's start with you because cannabis legalization and the Trump administration's [11:32] order to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. So, Kim, let's start with [11:38] you here because you're the CEO of the Florida-based company Trulieve. You've been called the cannabis [11:43] industry's Trump whisperer. That's what they're calling you right now. So you and others really [11:48] lobbied to get the president to sign an executive order to change the government's classification [11:52] of marijuana. Trump actually gifted you the marker that he signed that order with. [11:58] What did you say to try to convince him? Well, you know, thankfully, well, first of all, [12:03] happy 420. I should start with that. But the president really has came to the conclusion [12:09] that rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I alongside heroin to a Schedule III where it could [12:16] be researched appropriately was the right thing to do. He heard from hundreds and hundreds and [12:20] hundreds of Americans, including veterans, folks that, you know, were personally and have been [12:26] personally impacted using medical cannabis and really realized that the one thing that we're [12:30] really missing in the cannabis landscape here is American-based, science-based research. [12:38] And the current classification simply doesn't allow us to get down to answer the specific [12:42] questions around, you know, what products actually can help specific conditions at what dose and allow [12:49] scientists to use the products that now millions of Americans are using in over 40 states across [12:54] this country. So, Kim, last week Trump said that his administration is slow walking on reclassifying [13:00] marijuana. Why do you think it hasn't happened yet? Well, you know, look, I think that the president [13:05] has made it very, very clear with respect to his expectations and this administration's expectations [13:11] around rescheduling. I do think that, you know, getting it across the finish line, there's a lot of folks [13:17] who I think are working on it. And look, we just want to make sure and hopefully they'll get it right [13:22] and hopefully it will be very, very soon. But again, just as you mentioned, this weekend, in fact, [13:28] the president did point out that he does expect his administration to get it done. [13:32] How would all of this affect the cannabis industry? Well, I mean, like I said, first and foremost, [13:38] the fact that this opens the door to real scientific evidence-based research that's not just [13:44] survey-based research, which is what we've had here in the United States, that we can begin to have [13:49] all of our wonderful universities and scientific community use products the Americans are ingesting [13:55] today to make determinations on not only, of course, the benefits, which we know there are many [14:00] for different ailments, including spasticity disorders and cancer treatments, and, of course, [14:05] issues with sleep and end-of-life, but also understanding better the risks. [14:10] You know, as a, listen, as someone in cannabis and also as a mom, it is important for us to [14:15] better understand risks of cannabis use to the developing brain, for example, and with certain [14:20] maybe potential mental health disorders. So, but in order to be able to appropriately do that, [14:26] we have to have the research. And so that is a huge unlock for this industry, for sure. [14:31] Okay. And that's something that we're going to talk in just a moment here. But one of our top [14:34] search questions today is, will weed ever be federally legal? What's your take on that? [14:39] Yeah. I mean, listen, I think that, you know, this rescheduling will be the first [14:45] American cannabis policy that has been completed since cannabis was put on the schedule one to [14:53] begin with. So this is a huge, huge first step. In addition, we know that Congress has been looking [14:59] at and reviewing laws such as banking regulations, as well as others to make cannabis businesses more [15:07] and more normalized in this country. So I think it's going to be incremental. I do think that, [15:11] again, moving from one to three is the first and a very important step to the future of cannabis [15:18] reform in America. All right, Kim, thank you so much for joining us here on all of this, because [15:22] let's go ahead and bring in now our medical correspondent, Dr. Darian Sutton, to talk about [15:25] those risks that Kim's mentioned here. So how could this impact people's health? First of all, [15:31] people want to know, is cannabis addictive? Thanks for having me, Gio. And the answer is yes, [15:37] cannabis can be addictive, but not everyone who uses it develops a problem. You know, it's estimated [15:42] that one in 10 adults suffer from cannabis use disorder. That's what we had defined it as in [15:46] medicine. And the risk is higher among teens. About one in six teens who use cannabis will eventually [15:51] develop cannabis use disorder. And that can present in a couple of different ways, one being tolerance, [15:56] or you're needing more to just get that same effect or high dependence. Your brain is adapting to it, [16:01] so you don't feel normal when you're not on it. And it can even be coupled with withdrawal symptoms, [16:05] which is when you don't have cannabis, that can increase your irritability, sleep problems, [16:09] and other issues with anxiety, and even increasing your risk of depression. You couple that with [16:13] increased cravings, inability to cut back, and continuing to do it, despite it might having a [16:18] negative impact on your life. And that defines what is cannabis use disorder. So again, not everyone [16:22] who uses cannabis develops it, but it is a very real and important risk. A real and important risk. [16:28] Okay, so what impact could marijuana have on the brain? I know that we have talked about this a lot [16:33] on GMA. What are you seeing? There's a lot of buzz around this. [16:37] Yeah, well, cannabis directly impacts the brain. And we understand that in a temporary effect. When [16:42] someone uses cannabis, there's effects on memory, on judgment, decision making. But we're learning more [16:47] and more that there's different effects depending on how old that brain is. For example, we're finding [16:51] out in new studies that there's significant effects, and there's more clear risk among teens, [16:55] children, adolescents, who were exposed to cannabis early on. We understand, Gio, as we discussed earlier, [17:00] that the brain continues to develop until your mid-20s. And we're seeing from these studies that those [17:05] risks can pile on, leading to slower cognitive progression, and even increasing risk of anxiety, [17:10] depression, and possibly even psychosis among young teens, children, and adolescents who are using cannabis. [17:16] For adults, the picture is a lot more gray. You know, we understand that there is a risk there, [17:20] but we have yet to see the full data on understanding what is the long-term effect on [17:24] the adult brain. We see that cannabis, chronic cannabis use, is associated with certain changes, [17:29] for example, a smaller volume in the area of the brain that controls memory, the hippocampus, [17:34] and even thinning areas that require impulse control or help us to regulate impulse control. [17:38] But again, the long-term studies have yet to be done, and hopefully we'll get to see that [17:42] research and that data in the near future. [17:44] Can we talk about the munchies for a second? Because we got like Chipotle, Dunkin' Donuts, [17:48] they're all offering all these deals on 420. So why does weed give you the munchies? [17:53] Well, there is no doubt that cannabis, the THC active chemical, as well as cannabis itself, [17:59] activates our hunger modules in our brain, and that is closely tied to our reward pathways. [18:05] To understand this, you have to understand that hunger is so much more than just your body needing [18:09] nutrition. It is so much more than just a signal from your stomach to your brain. It involves a [18:13] conversation between what we need, nutrition, and what we desire, pleasure. That's what drives our [18:18] cravings, and we know that cannabis use drives those pleasure reward centers, which makes food [18:22] not only more rewarding, but we've also seen studies that it heightens your smell and your [18:26] taste, which can probably increase your pleasure during that experience. So it very much explains [18:30] why you get the so-called munchies when you're using cannabis. [18:33] Probably not the best for the beach, bud. All right. Thank you so much, Dr. Degrenson. [18:37] I appreciate it. All right. Still ahead, it might be at the top of your feed, but what's the vibe? [18:40] We've got your top pop culture and entertainment searches with Roxy Diaz. [18:44] You better gird your loins because we're talking about the world premiere of Devil Wears Prada [18:49] 2. It's the Vibe Check, and it's next. All right. It's time now for the Vibe Check, [19:07] a look at what's buzzing in entertainment and pop culture. And our Roxy Diaz joins me now [19:11] with more on what's trending on your feeds and in our life. Roxy, what's the vibe? [19:16] All right. Sad news today. Actor Patrick Muldoon, known for his days on Days of Our Lives, [19:21] Melrose Place and Starship Troopers, has passed away at 57. A rep for the actor telling ABC News [19:27] he suffered a sudden heart attack at his Beverly Hills home. The 1990s heartthrob built a decades-long [19:33] career across television and film and was actively involved in new projects until the end. [19:38] He's remembered by friends and fans as charismatic, generous, passionately devoted to his craft. [19:44] And comedy legends Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are sharing a pretty special moment this week [19:49] after officially becoming grandfathers. Murphy telling E! News that his son Eric and Martin [19:54] Lawrence's daughter, Jasmine, recently welcomed a baby girl named Iris Sky, tying the two stars together [20:00] both on and off the screen. The family milestone came the same weekend that Eddie Murphy was celebrated [20:06] at the AFI Life Achievement Awards, honoring his decade-long run as one of comedy's biggest forces. [20:12] Between grandparent duties and career, this career-defining moment, it was a big full-circle moment [20:18] for Eddie with Martin right there to celebrate it all. And as the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni case heads to trial [20:26] on next month, Ryan Reynolds is breaking his silence and very clearly standing by his wife. [20:32] In a rare interview, Reynolds said that he has never been more proud of Lively, stressing that the public [20:37] doesn't see what's really happening. He's also calling out the disconnect between online narratives [20:42] and real life. Now, after parts of Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni were dismissed and key claims [20:49] like retaliation moved forward, Reynolds is praising Lively's integrity, saying that she's carried herself [20:55] with strength throughout the legal fight and tied to the film It Ends With Us. Baldoni has denied the claims [21:01] against him, and now with Reynolds publicly weighing in, the already high-profile case is drawing even more [21:07] attention across Hollywood. And last but definitely not least, the excitement is building for the world [21:12] premiere of Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York. Meryl Streep says the cast has been overwhelmed by the [21:18] response, describing the return as an ambush of goodwill and avid attention, nearly 20 years after [21:25] the original film became a cultural phenomenon. And with Anne Hathaway also being named People Magazine's [21:30] 2026 World's Most Beautiful, it's shaping up to be a pretty major event in fashion film and one of the [21:37] most iconic franchise comebacks that we've ever seen. So, Gio, I'm really jealous that I'm not in [21:42] New York right now. I know, right? Are you going to the premiere? I was invited, I was ready to go, and I have [21:48] to work. I gotta work. It's all good. Oh, okay, well, you gotta work. It's okay. It's all good. Because I was gonna walk off this set and be like, bye. [21:54] Hey, are you a Miranda or an Emily? I am, I think I'm an Emily. Oh, okay. I'm not as cutthroat as Miranda. [22:03] Miranda's next level. No, you're not. But you're still so fashionable. I love you, Roxy. Thank you so much. [22:07] Oh, thank you. Thanks, Gio. All right, I'm Gio Benitez. This is Searched on ABC News Live, where your questions meet real answers. We're going to leave you with what's trending right now over on ABCnews.com. You can scan that big QR code right there to catch up, and we will catch you back here tomorrow. Bye.