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Shamar Elkins, who allegedly killed eight children aged one to 12, is said to have shot the mother of his children in the face and killed one of the children on a back roof.

Police report that the Louisiana gunman, who opened fire on two properties in the early hours of Sunday, killed seven of his own children, as well as claiming the life of another child. The horrific incident stands as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years.

Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon confirmed on Sunday evening that the suspect, Shamar Elkins, shot the mother first before killing the eight children. A total of 10 people were shot, with two women surviving the harrowing ordeal. One of the female victims is said to be in a life-threatening condition, believed to have been shot in the head.

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday morning when the gunman approached a property in Shreveport, where the devastating massacre is reported to have taken place.

Following the shooting, police stated that Elkins drove to Harrison Street, approximately a quarter of a mile away. Officers pursued him in a high-speed chase after he carried out a carjacking. Elkins subsequently drove to a third location, where he was shot and killed by police.

One of the wounded women is Elkins' wife, who was shot in the face but was alive on Sunday. The other is believed to be his girlfriend.

Seven of the eight children killed were found inside the home. The eighth was discovered dead on a back roof.

"We know it's domestic in nature, we know his wife is involved, and she is the mother of at least seven of the children, with the eighth being a family friend," Bordelon said.

A small-calibre handgun was used in some of the killings. Elkins was carrying a rifle-style pistol when police confronted and shot him dead.

It appears many of the children were shot while they slept. Most suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

"It is a disgusting and evil scene," Bordelon said.

Liza Demming, who lives two houses away from where the majority of the victims were shot, revealed that her security camera captured footage of the suspect fleeing, along with the sound of two gunshots.

"That's pretty much all I saw, was him running out of the house and the cars leaving," she said. Demming subsequently went outside and discovered the covered body of a child on the roof of the property. She stated she was unaware of the gunman's identity. "He looks like the dad that comes over here," she said, adding that he had been with the children just a few days prior.

Pastor Marty T. Johnson Sr., of the nearby St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church, who owns one of the properties where the shootings took place, revealed that a member of his staff had rented it to the family, though he had never had any direct dealings with them himself.

"I don't really know them, I really don't," he said. "I do plan on having a prayer vigil for the family, and anything I can do, with so many children, to help them bury the children, I'm going to do so."

Louisiana State Police confirmed their detectives had been called upon by Shreveport police to lead the investigation. In an official statement, state police confirmed that no officers sustained injuries following a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.

State police are urging anyone in possession of photographs, footage or relevant information to come forward and share it with their detectives.

Louisiana governor Jeff Landry and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who hails from Shreveport, both issued separate statements expressing their devastation and commending law enforcement for their swift response.

"We're holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time," Mr Johnson said in a statement.

Detectives remained confident the shooting was "entirely a domestic incident."