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Shooter Kills Seven Children, Gun Traced to Charged Man

4/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Shamar Elkins, 31, killed seven children and a nephew in the April 19 shooting before dying in pursuit.
Investigators said the couple accused each other of infidelity and faced financial strain before the shooting.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) traced the rifle to a woman who gave it to Charles Ford, who was charged on April 21 with felon-in-possession and a false statement to federal agents.

History

Historical Context

The Gun Control Act of 1968 emerged in response to a series of political assassinations, including those of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, it prohibited firearm sales to certain individuals, such as felons and the mentally ill, and established regulations enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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Story summary

Shamar Elkins, 31, killed seven children and a nephew in the April 19 shooting before dying in pursuit.
Investigators said the couple accused each other of infidelity and faced financial strain before the shooting.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) traced the rifle to a woman who gave it to Charles Ford, who was charged on April 21 with felon-in-possession and a false statement to federal agents.

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