Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry Announces First Lady’s Foundation to Cover Funeral Expenses for All Victims of Recent Tragedy

When Governor Jeff Landry stood in Shreveport on April 22nd, 2026, to address the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting on West 79th Street, his announcement carried a weight that resonated far beyond the immediate grief. The news that First Lady Sharon Landry’s foundation, Love One Louisiana, would cover funeral expenses for all eight victims—including the seven children of suspected shooter Shamar Elkins—struck a chord in communities across the state, from the bayous of Lafayette to the streets of New Orleans. For residents of Baton Rouge, where the State Capitol overlooks the Mississippi River and the echo of legislative debates mingles with the rhythm of daily life, this moment wasn’t just about state-level policy. it was a stark reminder of how swiftly tragedy can touch any neighborhood, and how local institutions become the first responders in healing.

The shooting itself, which unfolded on the night of April 19th, left eight people dead in a residential area near the intersection of West 79th Street and Hearne Avenue. According to the coroner’s office and confirmed by KSLA reporting, seven of the victims were children identified as Jayla Elkins (age 3), Shayla Elkins (age 5), Kayla Pugh (age 6), Layla Pugh (age 7), Markaydon Pugh (age 10), Sariahh Snow (age 11), Khedarrion Snow (age 6), and Braylon Snow (age 5). The suspected shooter, Shamar Elkins, was later confronted and killed by police in Bossier City after fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. In the immediate aftermath, Governor Landry, accompanied by First Lady Sharon Landry, visited Shreveport to offer condolences and outline concrete steps of support. Central to his remarks was the activation of Love One Louisiana—the First Lady’s foundation—to assume the full financial burden of funeral costs for all victims, a gesture intended to alleviate one layer of suffering for families already shattered by loss.

This commitment from Love One Louisiana builds on a pattern of engagement by the Landry administration in addressing community trauma through public-private partnerships. Just weeks prior, the Governor had highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening mental health infrastructure in North Louisiana, particularly around Shreveport-Bossier, where access to crisis intervention services has long been uneven. The announcement also intersected with efforts by local leaders like Kristi Gustavson, CEO of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, who simultaneously unveiled two distinct funds: the April 19th Survivor’s Fund, designed to meet ongoing needs of those injured or traumatized, and the April 19th Memorial Fund, focused on domestic violence prevention—a noted concern given early reports suggesting the incident may have stemmed from a domestic dispute. Gustavson urged residents to visit the foundation’s website for donation details, emphasizing that sustainable recovery requires both immediate aid and long-term structural investment.

For Baton Rouge residents watching these events unfold, the connection feels personal. The city, home to Louisiana State University and the seat of state government, has its own history of grappling with gun violence, particularly in neighborhoods like Traditional South Baton Rouge and along the Scotlandville corridor. While Baton Rouge did not experience this specific tragedy, the ripple effects—such as increased demand for grief counseling services, heightened awareness around safe firearm storage, and renewed calls for violence interruption programs—are felt statewide. Local organizations like the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination (BRAVE) program and the Iris Domestic Violence Center have long worked on the frontlines of prevention and intervention, often partnering with state agencies to stretch limited resources further. The Love One Louisiana announcement, isn’t just a Shreveport story; it’s a catalyst for conversations happening in community centers, places of worship, and city council chambers across East Baton Rouge Parish, where leaders are asking how best to replicate such rapid, compassionate responses when crisis strikes closer to home.

the economic dimension of funeral expenses—often overlooked in public discourse—cannot be understated. In Louisiana, where median household income trails the national average and unexpected costs can quickly precipitate financial crisis, the sudden burden of arranging a funeral can push families into debt or housing instability. By removing this barrier, Love One Louisiana’s intervention addresses a critical social determinant of health: economic security. This aligns with broader trends observed by the Louisiana Department of Health, which has identified economic strain as a key exacerbating factor in post-traumatic stress and community-wide distress following violent incidents. In Baton Rouge, where nonprofits like the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank routinely assist families navigating sudden hardships, the model set by the First Lady’s foundation offers a template for how targeted financial relief can stabilize households during moments of acute vulnerability.

Given my background in community resilience and public affairs, if this trend of foundation-led rapid response impacts you in Baton Rouge, here are the three types of local professionals you need to understand about when seeking support or looking to contribute:

• Grief and Trauma Counselors Specializing in Community Violence: Glance for licensed clinicians (LPC-S, LCSW) affiliated with established local providers like the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center or Our Lady of the Lake Behavioral Health. Prioritize those with verifiable experience in trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR or TF-CBT, and who offer sliding-scale fees or accept Medicaid—critical for accessibility in underserved neighborhoods like Scotlandville or Melrose East.
• Violence Intervention and Prevention Specialists: Seek professionals affiliated with evidence-based programs like BRAVE or the CeaseFire model, who have demonstrable experience in conflict mediation, street outreach, and hospital-based violence intervention. Credentials should include certification from recognized national bodies (e.g., Cure Violence Global) and a track record of collaboration with the Baton Rouge Police Department’s Community Outreach Unit or the District Attorney’s Office.
• Community Economic Resilience Coordinators: These are often social workers or financial counselors embedded within United Way of Southeast Louisiana branches or Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge. Key criteria include expertise in connecting families to emergency assistance programs (like LIHEAP or SNAP), navigating funeral aid applications, and linking clients to long-term stability resources such as job training at Baton Rouge Community College or legal aid through Southeast Louisiana Legal Services.

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