The shooting reportedly started as a family dispute and the suspected perpetrator is, according to police, related to at least some of the children.
A total of ten people were shot at 6 a.m. Sunday local time.
"We have three different locations we are investigating. The actual shooting occurred in a house; then there was another shooting further down the street, and a residence where one of the victims went after the shooting," police spokesman Christopher Bordelon said, according to NBC News.
According to police, the eight children killed were between 18 months and 14 years old. In addition, two adult women are being treated for gunshot wounds.
In addition to those shot, a boy was injured after jumping from a roof, KTBS.
The suspected shooter tried to flee the scene and made his way to a neighboring town before being shot dead by police.
"The person responsible stole a car near the crime scene and police began a manhunt. We believe he was the only person who fired a weapon," said Christopher Bordelon.
Tom Arceneaux, mayor of Shreveport in northwest Louisiana, says it's a terrible morning for the city's 180,000 residents.
"It's tragic, maybe the most tragic thing we've ever experienced here," he said.
