Funeral for Eight Children in Shreveport

May 9, 2026, 21:31
USSociety

Introduction

People in Louisiana had a special service for eight children. The children died in a shooting on April 19.

Main Body

A man named Shamar Elkins killed seven children and one cousin. The children were between three and eleven years old. He used a big gun. Two women were hurt. Later, the man died after the police chased him. Governor Jeff Landry and Mayor Tom Arceneaux were sad. The Governor told people to lower the flags for one week. Many people went to the church to pray and remember the children. Some famous people came to help. Gabby Giffords and Kelvin Gadson traveled to the city. They want to stop gun violence in the United States.

Conclusion

The funerals are finished. The police are still studying the case.

Learning

🕒 Talking about the Past

In this story, most things already happened. To do this, we often add -ed to the end of a word.

The Pattern:

  • Help →\rightarrow Helped
  • Travel →\rightarrow Traveled
  • Finish →\rightarrow Finished

The 'Rule Breakers' (Irregular): Some words change completely. You just have to memorize these:

  • Die →\rightarrow Died (follows the rule)
  • Is/Are →\rightarrow Was/Were (The Governor was sad)
  • Go →\rightarrow Went (People went to church)

Quick Check: If you see -ed, the action is finished. If you see went, it is also finished!

Vocabulary Learning

funeral
A ceremony held for someone who has died
Example:The funeral was held in the town hall.
children
Young people who are not adults
Example:Many children were playing in the park.
shooting
An event where a gun is fired
Example:The shooting happened at noon.
gun
A weapon that shoots bullets
Example:He carried a gun in his pocket.
police
People who enforce laws and keep safety
Example:The police arrived quickly.
sad
Feeling unhappy or sorrowful
Example:She felt sad after the news.
flags
Pieces of cloth with colors or symbols used for decoration or signaling
Example:The flags were lowered at sunset.
church
A building where people meet to pray
Example:We went to the church for a service.
pray
To talk to a god or spirit for help or thanks
Example:He will pray for the victims.
help
To give support or assistance
Example:They will help the families.