Shreveport tragedy brings awareness to mental health, domestic violence

Added: 2026-05-04

[00:00:19]Hello everyone. Welcome to KTA on News Now. I'm your host Anthony Macklin and today we are continuing our coverage of the shooting that took place as a result of a domestic dispute in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport on West 79th Street. And here with me to just kind of wrap our heads around everything and discuss more about it is our digital director Marissa Diaz. Thank you for being here with me today. Of course.

[00:00:46]Thanks for having me, but not under these good circumstances. Yeah. So I want to share with you and I'm going to try not to woo. We haven't even gotten into it yet. Wow. Okay. Maybe you should just take a full screen of your face.

[00:01:03]Um The reason why I get like so crazy is because my kids were like mom, what happened? You know, like what what was it the daddy?

[00:01:13]How many kids? Cuz of course they're in school. One's 16, one's 12. So they were like um The daddy the daddy really do it? The daddy, you know, and I said, well, what what have you heard?

[00:01:27]Cuz you know, kids are really smart. And they talk and they realize a lot of things. And so when they came home and of course we were working and it's been crazy here as you can imagine, you know, our duty is to cover all the things from good and bad and obviously this is a tragedy. So Um when I did get to finally see them, they said, well, what happened? And of course I didn't give them all the details because they're 16 and 12.

[00:01:53]But I also think it's important to tell them the truth, but maybe not so much because of their age. So they said, is it true that the daddy did it?

[00:02:04]And I said, you know, it is true and they said and they kind of just looked at me like, how can that be because you know, our kids we've got good relationships. Not to say that this individual didn't have good relationships. And I said, well, we don't of course there's 17 sides to every story. So I said, well, we don't really know what happened, but it is the the daddy.

[00:02:28]And I said, you know, it's happened on Sunday in the morning. So everybody's still trying to gather all the facts and I know we have a timeline on ktalnews.com, which is very helpful to go through from the very beginning, but it's been it's been a thing. It's been a lot and I hate that nationally, regionally, statewide that Shreveport has been put on the map because of this tragedy. I wish it was more for good news and and not this. So sorry. I really started off really bad. Sorry.

[00:03:03]>> [laughter] >> I should I should take back I'm sorry.

[00:03:07]Um but it's it's it's heart-wrenching for the family and it's heart-wrenching just for the community and just you know, as you know, you have nieces and nephews and cousins and it's just you never know what people are going through. So I don't know. It's it's heart-wrenching and my heart always like like pounds so hard for the community, for the families, for the the moms, for I just I don't know. It's I don't know. And for him too. And I you know, I know people I'm just rambling. I know people have a lot of words, but obviously he the the individual was not well and so my heart bleeds for him too. You know, and just that it got to this point that of hopelessness.

[00:03:54]I don't know. I don't know.

[00:03:57]I don't know.

[00:03:58]We are human. Yeah.

[00:04:00]There's No, you're fine. I mean I'm so sorry. I'm just like This is unscripted, you know, we let everything out. This is a great time for that and one thing that is I guess a good takeaway from the fallout from all this is just how much the community has come together and supported one another and like there's so many local hospitals and organizations that are offering like free mental health care to people and just for anyone that needs it, whether you know, you think you do or not. If you know someone who does, you know, reach out to them and make sure that you're getting them the help they need because this is you know, the government anything even close to this happens to where it you know, gets to that point like you said.

[00:04:43]It is um This is terrible. I don't know. Sorry.

[00:04:48]>> [snorts] >> It's really bad. You know, and I just think about all of them.

[00:04:54]It's it's hard for us too. You know, it's hard for us to report it. It's hard for us to be here. It's just it's really really hard and I don't think people understand from the aspect of reporting it and and writing these things and watching these videos and listen, everyone is mourning.

[00:05:11]Everyone's grieving in a certain way, but I'm just saying as a media outlet, it is a thing and it reminds me of the Uvalde shooting cuz I also was here and woo, I'm sweating. I also [snorts] was here, but I had to take a time out and go in my office just cry because again, it's just humanity. I feel like we are good people.

[00:05:35]I mean, I always try to see like the brighter side and the light of people, but there is evil and I hate that and I hate that there is evil in the world and this not to say that this person is evil, but these type of acts, right?

[00:05:50]And it's a lot. It's really a lot for just everybody. I don't know. I'm so sorry. I'm crying, but um It's a lot. I don't know. I don't know I don't know what to even say because as a mama, you're just like Oh gosh, that's a burden, right? That's a It's terrible. It's just terrible and I'm sweating. Sorry.

[00:06:15]Um I didn't I didn't think I was going to even cry. We were trying to talk about the facts and going back and the the um what's going on, but I think when you talk about it, right?

[00:06:28]You just the emotions come out of just being a parent and having your kids ask you and having to answer those questions and to explain to them like in a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old way you know, how this happened in your home. They were born here.

[00:06:52]So how how did this has happened in your hometown and it's just it's really indescribable to even have a conversation with them about it and to navigate what is going to be good for their mental health.

[00:07:06]And you don't want to lie, but you also want to tell the truth and then also protect them cuz they don't need to know all the details, right? And we can get into the details and I'm probably going to let you get into the details cuz again, I'm sorry that I didn't I didn't even know I was going to get this emotional, but I just you know, the babies and you see the pictures and I can't even look at the pictures because I'm like, oh my gosh. I I just will cry. So If you if you want to get into the timeline or if you want to ask me any questions or whatever. [laughter] Yeah, it's no worries. Um Like I said, we're this is a very open space. I mean, it's obviously this has affected so many people across the community and I'm sure a lot of people still the same way. They can't even just begin to think about it or leave even begin to fathom like how someone could go through that. Especially for the mothers who there were two adult females who were ended up being injured by some of the gunfire and they were in critical condition.

[00:08:10]We don't know anything further than that, but we are continuing >> I hope they're pulling through. I really do. And I mean again in the morning, you know, It was it's a it was cuz we had to come in, but it was a beautiful day.

[00:08:24]Beautiful day. You like and it actually reminded me and I not to go back, but it actually reminded me of the weather during 9/11, which I was there. But it was just like crispy, beautiful sunny day, right? And it's just you know, you don't expect these things to happen and wow. This is it's Again, I hate that we are on the map because of this tragedy. I hate it. I really do.

[00:08:50]And I guess it started at 5:55 on Sunday morning. So of course babies are going to be sleeping and kids will be sleeping. So I I just imagine the chaos of just what is going on. But um you know, you bring up a good point about community being rallying together.

[00:09:09]I think that's really the great thing about Louisiana and about Louisianans is that they do it's it's almost some sort of like and and you know, the Governor Landry actually said it yesterday that it's almost like the state comes together and that people are like family, right? And I definitely do feel like everyone is just like, gosh, this is not good. We are better than this. We are better than this.

[00:09:35]We need to help each other out. We need to be kind. We need to see signs if someone is going through something and try to help them because again, like you never know. You never know what people are going through. So Uh What are your thoughts?

[00:09:52]I mean, I I'm still trying to wrap my head around it too cuz Yeah.

[00:09:56]>> You know, like you said, it was a beautiful day. I just woken up. It was a normal Sunday and then I see like the push notifications from our app and everything saying like eight children are dead. And I'm like Yeah. that I I I was like speechless. I I I couldn't even like begin to even imagine something like that actually happening. Like thought it was I was like seeing things. I would just like Yeah. I like rub my eyes and stuff.

[00:10:21]>> check the number, too. I I just was in shock of the number because I think it dum- doubled our homicide rate at this point. We were doing quote-unquote Mhm. okay, right, as a city, but in one day, it doubled that.

[00:10:39]And that just gosh, I can't even. It's even looking at the memorial, you know, on the corner of West 79th Street and Linwood. I haven't been there in person yet.

[00:10:53]I don't know if I can. I don't know.

[00:10:55]It's just it's >> [sighs] >> It's one of those things where you want to pay tribute, but then also too, it's just like beyond heart-wrenching. Just But even watching those videos and the the balloons and the teddy bears and the flowers is it's I don't know. It's crazy.

[00:11:14]It's crazy. And I I I do feel bad for the individual because he obviously was in a place of despair and pushed into a corner. And again, we're never going to know exactly, but if you if you figure like it got to that point. It was like the point of no return. And I hate that for him, you know? And I know people again are speaking badly about him, but anyone in the right mind would not do that, right? And so, I just hate that for him, too.

[00:11:59]I mean, because if you he did have pictures of his babies, you know, with him and on Easter and they look like, you know, of course, you never know, but >> Yeah.

[00:12:11]I mean, I I don't know. I just It's just It's terrible.

[00:12:18]Yeah. I had to check that number, too.

[00:12:20]Yeah. I had to cuz I really thought that that number was wrong. And I even told one of our other team members, "Make sure you check that number." And he we were we were going back and forth before I got into the station. I said, "Are you sure? Is that number confirmed?

[00:12:36]Are you sure?" And I kept asking him, "Are you sure?

[00:12:39]Please be careful. Like do not put that in the headline." Like we always write to be con- you know, just to be safe.

[00:12:44]He's like, "No, it's confirmed." And I was like, "Are you positive?" And he's like, "Yes." And I was like, "Oh my gosh, what in the world is going on?"

[00:12:52]So, yeah. Sunday was very And I think we were so busy on Sunday, we couldn't even like fathom, right? I think one point we were watching um Was it on Sunday? Yes, we're watching city council and they were talking about it. And at one point, Tabitha Taylor, she just said it well that she just had no words. And I think our same same team member that I was speaking to earlier that that day, we just kind of broke down and cried cuz it was so heart-wrenching cuz you you think of these city leaders to be knowing what to say and what, you know, words of encouragement. And she had none. You know, she just was in tears. And we just felt that. Completely felt that. And It's been hard. I mean, it's just to report on tragedy every day takes a mental toll, really. And you try not to be sensitized, sensitive I mean, you try to be sensitive to it and not be desensitized.

[00:13:55]And but coming at you at all times is really hard.

[00:14:01]>> Yeah.

[00:14:02]I know I I and I again, I don't think people realize cuz we cover what local, regional, national.

[00:14:09]It's really hard to keep all of that mentally just intact, right? You you have to be unbiased and fair and and factual and walk that straight line, right? Not left, not right, but mentally it is like I mean, do you feel it? Mhm.

[00:14:26]Right?

[00:14:27]>> Yeah, I mean, it just being just being in the newsroom, we have TVs surrounding us everywhere on different channels, news stations, everything like that. So, just seeing every like major thing that's happening, good, bad, ugly, like everything like it can get a little overwhelming. Like And And then having to report on that, like you said, and get all the details right and make sure all your facts are straight.

[00:14:49]You know, it's it takes a certain kind of mentality and >> Yeah. just like mindset to Or you go and cry and come back.

[00:14:57]>> Yeah, that too. Yeah, that's what [laughter] we have our little break room for, our meditation room.

[00:15:01]>> Yeah. No, I mean And you And I And I was driving in on Sunday morning into the station and I kept just saying, "Why? Why? Why? Why?

[00:15:11]Why? Just walk away. Why? Leave those babies. Like they're babies." Just I kept And even out loud, I was like, "Why?

[00:15:20]Why? Why? Why?" And of course, no one was answering me back, but I just couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. And I all I knew was I get it. It's not about me, but I just kept asking, "What What happened? Why?" And then obviously, we got, you know, things were unfolding, but again, we will never know exactly why.

[00:15:40]We just can speculate, right? That mental illness or I don't know. Evil I mean, whatever. Whatever. We can speculate, but again, we will never know. We just know that it happened.

[00:15:53]Unfortunately, and it is not a good thing.

[00:15:58]Not a good thing at all. And I know you were talking about how you feel for the individual. And I think it's perfectly fine to feel that way because it's not like we're trying to excuse anything that happened or his actions or anything. But at the end of the day, he was a human being, like we are like we all are. Right.

[00:16:16]>> And I think that's my point is that yeah, yeah, he did do the action. I mean, allegedly, right? And he did pull the trigger, allegedly.

[00:16:26]But he is also human. And so, I bleed for like his human heart and that it was in that space that he felt trapped and or he had to do this or he snapped or whatever the case may be that it got to this point. I I think is is what I'm trying to to say is that it got to this point of despair.

[00:16:45]And that he couldn't feel like there was another outlet, right? And I And again, I feel for him in that sense that he felt like he was at despair.

[00:16:57]Not excusing his actions.

[00:16:59]Not at all.

[00:17:01]Just that Yeah, we are human. And I And I my heart like Like again, why? Like you could have just walked away and left those babies.

[00:17:12]And now those babies I mean, are gone, you know? They're angels and the healing process, grieving process for the the families and those involved in the neighborhood, community, the city. It's just It's It's just not good, you know? And And again, I mental health is a thing.

[00:17:41]And I know we say people need to get help. People need to get help. But we as human beings have the responsibility to check on each other. Whether it be your neighbors, our friends, our co-workers. Like is everything okay? Are you okay? And I think that that is also an important message is that yeah, we have the resources out there. Listen, I'm not a counselor, but I can ask you to make sure that you are okay.

[00:18:06]So, we all have that responsibility to each other as humans to do that. And I don't know. It's just It's heart-wrenching.

[00:18:17]Heart-wrenching.

[00:18:20]I don't know. And I think the the mental health aspect of it I think at least I hope people take away from this is that they put a brighter spotlight on mental health, especially for men, because the That's a good point, actually.

[00:18:35]>> overwhelming majority of men, I would say, treat like mental like there's just like sort of like stigma around it where you're seen as like weak or like anything like that. And Or I don't know.

[00:18:47]But it's not. Like it's if anything, you're trying Yeah, you're trying to better yourself. Yes.

[00:18:53]>> I agree with you.

[00:18:54]>> first step and make an appointment like with a psychiatrist or anything. Like just to get the help that you need and know yourself and have that emotional intelligence to realize what's going on and be like, "All right, I'm not in a great space right now."

[00:19:08]Instead of just trying to distract myself or like push it down. Like I need to actually like talk to people and like tell people about this before, you know, cuz the amount of stress that I mean, that causes someone. If you just keep everything just held in the whole time, I mean, eventually it's going to, you know, like in it's I agree with you, though. I think that there is a sick stigma around mental health. I think that there is certain like genders, as you were saying, that I feel like it's a weaker thing.

[00:19:42]I think there's certain, you know, um It's I mean, socio-economic status and or race that that feel like it's a weakness to say hey I need help.

[00:19:57]I think women in general this is a very general statement are better at saying I need help, right? Or I can't do this or I need you to tell help me with XYZ. I think they're just better communicators. Mhm.

[00:20:10]So I mean I think you're right that unfortunately there's a stigma around asking people for help and instead of seeing it as like strength Mhm. people see it as a weakness.

[00:20:23]And I was trying to pull this this up because we do have a list on our website of all of the the resources that we do have here in our city.

[00:20:33]I know we have project celebration. We have we definitely have a new domestic violence center that just opened up and I know this stemmed from I mean I we reported on it.

[00:20:43]And we got it from you know Shreveport Police Department that it was stemmed from a domestic violence something was going on there.

[00:20:53]Um and they've seen a lot of cases. You know I I actually got a chance to speak with Chief Smith and he had given us some stats about the cases that they have covered and you know we are only 4 months into the month.

[00:21:10]These numbers I mean I think in March they were up to like I can't even remember how many but like tremendous amount of numbers hundreds and thousands of of calls that they've been on for domestic violence, right? And for disputes.

[00:21:28]So it's a thing. It really is a thing and it's He he said it's outweighs um automobile accidents.

[00:21:45]It's the most prevalent thing in our state in our city right now is domestic violence and disputes.

[00:21:51]So it is I don't know it's just crazy.

[00:21:55]Yeah. People turn to violence, right?

[00:21:57]With it and I don't know. And it's crazy because as many reports and cases that they're getting at the same time like think of like how many go like unreported cuz they're not reported.

[00:22:11]>> Oh my goodness. It's just horrible that it is like that. Yes, you're absolutely right that these are just these are the reported ones. These are not even the ones that he that that are unreported that don't even get reported. So you're right, it's worse than that actually worse than the reported numbers. And actually um I want to I want to quote this I want to quote uh Tabitha Taylor because she is the council chairman chairwoman Tabitha Taylor. She stressed the seriousness of the domestic violence stating that she stated I want you to understand that domestic violence is nobody's joke. It is real and these are the residual effects of what happened if we're not paying attention.

[00:22:58]So you know it it's just not again national news, right? I go on YouTube last night to just mental margarita veg out. Guess what's on my YouTube?

[00:23:12]National news, ABC news, NBC news of where? Shreveport.

[00:23:16]>> Yeah. Right?

[00:23:18]So now national news has covered it and it's like people can't believe and fathom that this man killed seven of his own children and another child so eight in total. One of them was the cousin.

[00:23:31]Five girls, three boys. So you know it is a thing. It really is a thing.

[00:23:38]Um and I hate that and I I I know so project celebration is one. We have a new domestic violence unit. Also um Brentwood Hospital is a really good resource. There's a domestic violence hotline.

[00:23:52]Uh and everything is on our home our on our website on ktalnews.com.

[00:23:58]There's a list on there as well of resources but again you know you have to have the courage to get reach out and call.

[00:24:06]Now if my neighbor checks on me to make sure I'm good you know that might be a step too. So I feel like we all have a responsibility to make certain that neighbors, friends, co-workers that we're good. You know you you know when you're you know when people are off a little bit or when they need a little bit of help or attention.

[00:24:26]And some people may not think that they need the help to call these resources and these resources are fabulous that are here in our on our city but you may not pick up that phone, right?

[00:24:42]So Yeah and all these are like all the free mental health screenings everything on that it's like completely confidential.

[00:24:50]So there's like nothing to worry about like privacy wise like everything is like just you between you and the health care specialist like that's it. Like you don't have to worry about your friends finding out if you don't want like you know so it's it's not the end of the world if you have to pick up the phone. Yeah resort resort to that like it's it's a I think it's it's just a step to bettering yourself Yeah. which in then improves your relationships with your family, your friends, your co-workers like everything you just like if you're just in the if you're in the right head space and just a better head space I think everything around you will it's kind of like a chain reaction where everything kind of radiates off of that and like life is what you make it. I know it's like a very old saying or quote or whatever but it really is like if you're miserable and you just are miserable every single day like and you don't try to change something I mean you know why wouldn't you want to?

[00:25:45]Yeah and and and no you're absolutely right is and also too I think it's really important you know that you have a mental release. So whether you go for a walk or you go work out or you hobby, you craft, you plant, you garden. I think you as an individual I call it a mental margarita, right?

[00:26:04]That you are just breathing.

[00:26:08]Again whether that be work out or take a walk or whatever. I think you as a human being need to understand what is your release and what what will reset you if you can be reset to that quote unquote normal, right? Maybe there's no normal but just so you release the stress in the day or whatever you're going through or maybe you go to church or you talk to a friend whatever that is. I think in is it as a person as an individual that you realize when you get to that point I need to go take a walk, right? I need to I need to take a deep breath or I need to I need to pray in the corner or whatever it may be.

[00:26:47]Um Yeah. It it's it's crazy. It's it's just and I know we've got some reactions. I mean we have everybody from the rapper Boosie Is that how you say his name? Mhm. Okay Boosie, sorry Boosie. To you know we got Caddo Commissioner, we got city council, we got we have we had a chance to talk to Speaker Mike Johnson yesterday. You know Jeff Governor Jeff Landry was here yesterday as well. We've had NewsNation here. We've had NBC here.

[00:27:20]We've had Fox News. We've had everybody come in.

[00:27:26]But as the next story happens when people leave, right? The grief remains with that city and with those people even though national spotlight will be away.

[00:27:39]So this domestic violence dispute issues in our city will be affected by the people that still live here, right? So the people that are just visiting for coverage and then leaving we are still living and eating and working here as individuals. So we all have to take part in trying to help however we can with it.

[00:28:07]You know, I don't know.

[00:28:10]It's craziness. But everyone's been affected. Everyone has you know cried and shared and called and text. I had a text from my friend in New York and he said I heard what's going on. What's hap what's happening over there?

[00:28:27]Are you are you guys okay? And I said yeah no [clears throat] we're fine.

[00:28:30]We're fine.

[00:28:31]I'm fine.

[00:28:32]ish.

[00:28:33]Other people are not.

[00:28:34]>> As fine as I can be. Yeah, I'm fine ish.

[00:28:37]I'm at work but I'm fine ish. Not not compared to other people. So.

[00:28:44]Anyways. Well that is all the time that we have for today.

[00:28:49]We have all the information that you need and we continue to follow the story so be sure to stick with us with all the details on our website at ktalnews.com.

[00:28:59]Again we are their families and everybody who's affected by this and continues to be affected by domestic violence or mental health you know you're all in our thoughts and prayers and our our hearts go out to you so.

[00:29:12]Absolutely. Yes, we are always saying prayers for you and I'm not going to get emotional but our hearts go out to everybody in this city and especially the families that are going to be in a very long recovery process. So um we are not done telling the story. We are not telling we are not done telling your stories.

[00:29:32]We are we will continue that and we will try to help and fight as much as we can to end um however we can to make this city a We live here. We eat here. We play here.

[00:29:47]So we must try to fix it. Not fix it, but help it. So, our hearts and prayers are with with with everybody in this state.