A Shreveport man has been charged with providing the firearm used in a devastating mass shooting that killed eight children and wounded two adults. Charles Ford, 56, faces federal charges including possession of a firearm by a felon and making false statements to investigators after authorities linked him to the weapon used in Sunday's rampage.

Ford allegedly possessed the .22-caliber Mossberg pistol despite being prohibited from owning firearms due to prior convictions for robbery in 2000 and domestic abuse in 2011. Prosecutors say the gun was originally purchased by a woman in February 2025 who gave it to Ford while hospitalized. Ford claimed the weapon was stolen from his truck, but federal agents say his statements contradicted evidence.

The shooting, carried out by Shamar Elkins, resulted in the deaths of eight children ages 3 to 11 across multiple locations in northwestern Louisiana. Elkins, who was the father of seven of the victims, died following a confrontation with police after carjacking a vehicle. The community and Mayor Tom Arceneaux are grappling with what he called "maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had."