Shreveport man sentenced to more than 6 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing firearm used in mass shooting and lying to federal agents about firearm (DOJ)

SHREVEPORT - On October 13, 2026, United States District Judge Alexander C. Van Hook sentenced Charles Ray Ford, 56, of Shreveport, to 78 months in federal prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, followed by three years of supervised release. Ford previously pled guilty to the charge on June 15, 2026.

"The significant sentence Charles Ford will serve for illegally possessing the firearm that he knew found its way to Shamar Elkins and then lying about it to federal agents provides some small measure of accountability for Elkins' unthinkable crime," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. "While nothing can undo the devastation caused in this terrible case or restore the innocent life lost, this sentence sends a strong message that those whose actions put deadly weapons into the hands of violent felons will face serious consequences."

According to court documents, Ford, a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a Mossberg pistol between January 2025 and March 2026 after receiving it from an acquaintance. Despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to the prior felony conviction, Ford admitted to possessing the firearm. Ford further claimed that he kept the pistol under the seat of his truck and knew that Shamar Elkins had taken the firearm from his truck. Investigators later determined Elkins used the firearm on April 19, 2026, to carry out a mass shooting in Shreveport that claimed the lives of eight children while critically wounding two women.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Louisiana State Police, the Shreveport Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more at www.justice.gov/psn.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 5:26-cr-00188.

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