Shreveport Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Firearm Linked to Mass Shooting
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana
A Shreveport man was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 13, to 78 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm later used in a mass shooting that killed eight children and critically wounded two women. Charles Ray Ford, 56, pleaded guilty June 15 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Ford possessed a Mossberg pistol between January 2025 and March 2026 despite a previous felony conviction. Ford told investigators he kept the weapon under the seat of his truck and knew Shamar Elkins had taken it. Authorities said Elkins used the firearm in the April 19, 2026, shooting in Shreveport. U.S. District Judge Alexander C. Van Hook also ordered Ford to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The case was investigated by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
DOTD Announces New Bert Kouns Lane Closures Beginning Thursday
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Motorists traveling along Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport should prepare for additional lane closures beginning Thursday, Oct. 15. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that the inside lanes of LA 526 in both directions will experience intermittent closures between Interstate 49 and Linwood Avenue. The work involves removing a paved median island and constructing a turn lane associated with a private commercial development. The intermittent closures are expected to continue for approximately seven days, weather permitting. No detour is required. Drivers are encouraged to use caution around construction crews and equipment. Traffic updates are available through Louisiana 511.
Sci-Port Opens Interactive Film-Port Exhibition Celebrating Northwest Louisiana Filmmaking
Sci-Port Discovery Center
Sci-Port Discovery Center celebrated the grand opening of its new Film-Port exhibition Wednesday, Oct. 14, introducing visitors to the science, technology and creative techniques behind filmmaking. The exhibition, developed in partnership with the Shreveport-Bossier Film & Entertainment Commission and Robinson Film Center, highlights the region’s contributions to the film industry. Interactive stations allow visitors to experiment with green-screen technology, stop-motion animation, storyboarding and sound effects. Other features include a working zoetrope demonstrating early motion-picture technology and a red-carpet experience. Located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway in Shreveport, Sci-Port offers the exhibition as an educational experience connecting science, technology and the creative arts.
Bossier Parish Police Jury Schedules Public Hearings on Proposed Subdivisions
Bossier Parish Police Jury
The Bossier Parish Police Jury will hold public hearings Wednesday, Oct. 21, to consider proposed residential subdivision plats in two areas of the parish. One hearing involves Ivan Pines Subdivision, Unit No. 1, in Police Jury District 4. A separate hearing concerns Bellevue Wells Estates, Unit No. 1, a proposed subdivision involving approximately 14.076 acres of a larger 76.047-acre tract in District 8. Both matters involve proposed plat approvals, which establish the layout of properties for subdivision development. The hearings will take place in the Police Jury Meeting Room at the Bossier Parish Courthouse in Benton. Residents interested in the proposals may review the public notices issued by the parish.
Shreve Memorial Library Offers Thursday Activities for Children, Teens and Adults
Shreve Memorial Library
Shreve Memorial Library branches across Caddo Parish will offer educational and recreational activities Thursday, Oct. 15, for residents of various ages. The Cedar Grove/Line Avenue Branch will host a comics and zines workshop from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., while the David Raines Branch will feature graphic novel-inspired challenges for children and teenagers. The Hamilton/South Caddo Branch will offer an engineering activity for teens from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Adults can participate in a free American-style mahjong session at the Broadmoor Branch from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Additional activities include children’s crafts, story times and technology assistance. Residents may consult the library’s calendar for program details and locations.
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