Louisiana gunman kills 8 children despite past gun conviction, investigators probe

Eight children died Sunday when a former National Guardsman opened fire at a home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The gunman had a previous conviction for illegal firearms, raising questions about how he obtained the weapons used in the attack.

Seven children were killed inside the house. An eighth child was shot while trying to escape on the roof. Two women were also wounded in the shooting.

Police say the gunman used multiple weapons, including an assault-style rifle and a handgun. Officers found a handgun at the home and recovered a rifle-style weapon from the suspect.

After the shooting, police chased the gunman to neighboring Bossier Parish, where officers shot and killed him. Louisiana State Police are investigating both the mass shooting and the circumstances of the suspect's death.

Federal law bars people with felony convictions from buying guns, but enforcement gaps often allow prohibited buyers to obtain weapons through private sales or other means.