Eight children killed in Louisiana mass shooting remembered at funeral

Faith leaders and politicians paid tribute at a funeral Saturday to who were last month in Louisiana.

The victims of the April 19 shooting in Shreveport included seven siblings who were shot by their father in an attack that also killed their cousin.

The service on Mother鈥檚 Day weekend at Summer Grove Baptist Church began with a long procession of mourners slowly filing past eight white caskets with large photos of the children next to them. Gold crowns and bouquets of white flowers were placed on top of the closed caskets. A choir behind the altar and individual singers performed throughout the service.

鈥淚n spite of how you may be feeling today, we still need to know that God is still good,鈥� Bishop Bernard Kimble, senior pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, said in opening remarks.

The funeral’s pamphlet contained , who ranged in age from 3 to 11. Some of them had affectionate nicknames: 3-year-old Jayla Elkins was 鈥淛aybae;鈥� Kayla Pugh, 6, was called 鈥淜-Mae,鈥� and 10-year-old Mar鈥橩aydon Pugh was 鈥淜-Bug.鈥�

Six-year-old Khedarrion Snow had 鈥渁 sweet and loving heart,鈥� and 鈥渢hough his life on earth was short, his light was mighty,鈥� according to the pamphlet. Layla Pugh, 7, was 鈥渂right, intelligent, bold, and full of love鈥� and enjoyed making TikTok videos with her siblings and cousins.

Pastor and gospel singer Kim Burrell reminded family and community members trying to make sense of the shootings that 鈥淕od is still on the throne.鈥�

鈥淭o ask the question, ‘Why is this fair, God? How could you, Lord?’ He鈥檚 still God,鈥� Burrell said. 鈥淭he same God that healed you from the stuff that you don鈥檛 want to tell nobody about. But he is a God that doesn鈥檛 have to give us all the clues. Just know that he makes no mistakes.鈥�

The children鈥檚 father, , used an assault-style weapon despite a 2019 felony firearms conviction. His wife, who was seeking a divorce, and another woman were wounded in the shooting that stretched across two houses in a Shreveport neighborhood.

Elkins died after fleeing and a police pursuit. It was not clear whether he was killed by officers who fired or from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police.

An investigation remains ongoing into in the U.S. in more than two years.

During the service, other speakers included Shreveport Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor, who acknowledged that 鈥渢here are no words sufficient to ease this pain,鈥� while Councilman James Green implored audience members to collectively 鈥渢ake off our funeral face鈥� because 鈥渢his is a celebration鈥� of the children’s lives.

Indeed, churchgoers often stood clapping their hands in response to singers and speakers. The children’s names were read or shown several times throughout the service, where Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed the city’s condolences.

鈥淢ay we honor them by carrying forward the gentleness, joy and love they so freely shared,鈥� Arceneaux said.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff over the next week at the Capitol and state government buildings. A message read from Landry said the victims 鈥渨ere the light of their homes and the heart of their classrooms. They were full of promise and found joy in the simplest things, such as dancing, playing outside and sharing laughter with family and friends. Their futures were bright and held great promise.鈥�

鈥淚t is incumbent upon us to honor the memory of those lost by standing together against such senseless violence.鈥�

Among those in attendance was former U.S. Rep. , whose political career was cut short by a 2011 .

鈥淪he just wanted to come and just let the family know that this pain is not just in Louisiana,鈥� said U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Louisiana. 鈥淭his pain is all across the nation.鈥�

Buses were made available afterward to transport mourners to a graveside burial. At the conclusion of the church service, Kimble prayed for healing to begin.

鈥淗elp us as we move from this spot,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause we know, oh God, grief is only temporary. And if we’ll put our hands in your favor, you’ll lead us through this.鈥�