Eight children killed in shooting in Louisiana

TT

Updated 19.15 | Published 18.12

           

          Louisiana State Police have taken over the investigation of the shooting. Archive photo. Photo:                  Allen G Breed/AP/TT

Eight children have been killed in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana on Sunday.

– A terrible morning, says the mayor of the city of Shreveport.

The shooting is said to have started as a family dispute and the suspected perpetrator is related to at least some of the children, according to police.

A total of ten people were shot at 06:00 on Sunday morning local time.

– We have three different locations we are investigating. The actual shooting occurred in a house, then we have another shooting down the street and then we have a residence where one of the victims went after the shooting, police spokesman Christopher Bordelon said, according to NBC News.

The eight children killed were between 18 months and 14 years old, according to police. In addition, two adult women are being treated for gunshot wounds.

In addition to those shot, a boy was injured after jumping from a roof, reports television channel KTBS.

The suspected shooter tried to flee the scene and made his way to a neighboring town before being shot dead by police.

– The person responsible stole a car near (the crime scene) and police began a chase. We believe he is the only person who fired a weapon, says Christopher Bordelon.

Tom Arceneaux, mayor of Shreveport in northwest Louisiana, says it's a terrible morning for the city's 180,000 residents.

"It's tragic, maybe the most tragic thing we've ever seen here," he says.