With many Louisianians struggling to grasp the reality of one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings in years, many Northwestern State University of Louisiana students are speaking out about gun and domestic violence.
On Sunday, April 19, Shamar Elkins, the 31-year-old gunman, fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, in an attack on his family. According to the Associated Press, two women, one of whom was the gunman’s wife and mother of their children, were shot and critically wounded. The article explained that the children range in age from three to 11 years old.
The gunman died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him. The article also added that detectives said the shooting was “entirely a domestic incident.” Elkins had a criminal history with prior convictions for weapons violations. However, it is unclear whether he had any prior arrests for domestic violence.
This marks this 115th mass shooting and the deadliest shooting event in over two years in the United States. On Jan. 20, 2024, there was a fatal shooting in Joliet, Illinois, where eight family members were slain including the mother, brother, three sisters, aunt and uncle of the suspect.
Valerie Gongre, a freshman music education major and Shreveport native, said that this felt like an average day for the city. “I’m constantly used to seeing it in my media–death, death, death and gun violence everywhere–and I’m so desensitized to it now. Are we just like this forever?” she said.
Gongre said that this should be a reminder to try to give as much love and patience to everyone around you. “My mom just got diagnosed with cancer, so that’s also another reminder that whether it be a shooting, a car crash or any of those things, you never know the second that they can be snatched away from you,” she said.
Harry Hoben, a freshman music education major, feels that it’s always children who end up being the victims.
“I mean, it feels like we’re collapsing. There’s no sort of empathy or sympathy for anyone anymore,” Hoben said. “People think that other people are just less human. As much as we have grown as a country, and with legislation, for us to try and make everyone truly equal, it seems to be getting to where everyone’s just no longer a human.”
Hoben explained that the nation is suffering a mental health crisis. “I believe that, honestly, we’re progressing so fast that we can’t compensate for it. I think it’s just time that people need to shut down. This happens all the time; it’s only going to get worse,” Hoben said.
Mark Nicholas, a junior communication major, believes that the shooter was a coward who could’ve received help. “I think the way he did it was extremely cowardly. He could have handled it way differently,” he said.
Nicholas offered advice to victims suffering from mental health crises or domestic violence. “Don’t keep those emotions bottled in because it can only lead to something like that or even worse. If you’re going through a tough time in a relationship, it’s not hard to just walk out the door,” Nicholas said.
As millions of Americans react to this tragedy, NSU’s campuses are hoping to see a change to avoid another deadly event.
