A Shreveport man has been charged with federal gun violations in connection with the assault-style rifle used in a mass shooting that killed eight children in Louisiana, authorities said Tuesday.
Background
Charles Ford, 56, told investigators he believed Shamar Elkins stole the rifle from his truck weeks before the March 16 shooting that unfolded across two houses in Shreveport, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Elkins, who police said was the father of seven of the victims, died after fleeing from law enforcement.
Ford initially denied having the firearm when first approached by investigators following the shooting, according to court records. He later admitted to believing Elkins took possession of the weapon after confronting him about the missing gun around March 9, when Ford noticed it was gone.
The suspect became defensive during the confrontation, Ford told investigators, prompting him to drop the matter. Elkins died after a police pursuit. Authorities have not determined whether he was killed by officer gunfire or from a self-inflicted gunshot.
The children who died — three boys and five girls — ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old. Elkins' wife and another woman were also wounded in the rampage.
The Investigation
Ford faces two federal charges: being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements to federal agents, both allegedly relating to the rifle used in the shooting. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana filed the charges.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department have initiated a firearm trace to track the weapon's history. Investigators have interviewed the person who originally purchased the gun, who told authorities she gave it to Ford.
Court records show Elkins pleaded guilty in 2019 to a felony charge of illegal use of weapons in Caddo Parish. He was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation, and as a condition of that probation, he turned over a handgun to police. Under Louisiana law, individuals convicted of certain violent felonies are prohibited from possessing firearms for at least 10 years after completing their sentence and probation.
Key Takeaways
- Charles Ford, 56, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements to federal agents
- Ford claims Shamar Elkins stole the rifle from his truck around March 9, weeks before the mass shooting
- Eight children ages 3 to 11 were killed in the March 16 attack; Elkins was the father of seven victims
- Elkins died after fleeing police; he had a 2019 felony conviction for illegal use of weapons
- The weapon's history is being traced by ATF and Shreveport police
What's Next
Ford is expected to receive a federal public defender as he awaits arraignment. The U.S. Attorney's Office indicated it will continue investigating and prosecuting the case alongside law enforcement partners.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said in a statement that holding Ford accountable would provide some measure of solace to the Shreveport community, which lost eight children in one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings in recent years.