56-Year-Old Sentenced for Firearm Possession Linked to Shreveport Tragedy

Charles Ray Ford, a 56-year-old resident of Shreveport, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm that was later used in a tragic mass shooting. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Alexander C. Van Hook on October 13, 2026, following Ford's guilty plea in June of the same year.

Ford was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a Mossberg pistol, which he unlawfully held between January 2025 and March 2026. Despite his prior felony conviction, Ford acquired the firearm from an acquaintance and admitted to keeping it under the seat of his truck. He was aware that Shamar Elkins had taken the firearm from his vehicle, which Elkins subsequently used in a mass shooting on April 19, 2026, in Shreveport. This horrific event resulted in the deaths of eight children and left two women critically injured.

U. S. Attorney Zachary A.

Keller emphasized the significance of the sentence, stating that it "provides some small measure of accountability for Elkins’ unthinkable crime." He further noted that while the sentence cannot undo the devastation caused, it serves as a strong message that those who enable violent felons by providing them with deadly weapons will face serious consequences.

The investigation into Ford's possession of the firearm was conducted by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, the Shreveport Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S.

Attorney J. Aaron Crawford, with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.

This prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety. PSN coordinates efforts among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to address specific violent crime challenges in communities. It emphasizes rapid federal response, strategic partnerships, and accountability through the prosecution of serious offenses.

Ford will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the justice system to combat violent crime and hold accountable those who contribute to such tragedies.