Charles Ford, 56, was charged on April 21 with being a felon in possession of a firearm and making a false statement to federal agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana said. Authorities allege the firearm is the same weapon used by Shamar Elkins in the April 19 killings.
Ford faces up to 15 years in prison for the firearm charge and up to five years for the false statement charge, officials said.
“Words fall short in the face of the acts Shamar Elkins perpetrated in Shreveport on April 19—they are beyond comprehension or description. Our law enforcement partners are investigating every angle of how this tragedy came to occur, and this case arises from that investigation—in particular, how Elkins secured a firearm that he used to execute his own children,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller.
According to court documents cited in the release, federal agents traced the rifle used in the shooting to its original purchaser, who told investigators she had given it to Ford.
Authorities said Ford, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, initially denied having the weapon before later admitting he kept it under his seat and believed Elkins took it.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) said the case reflects a broader effort to hold accountable not just those who commit violent acts but also those who unlawfully provide access to firearms.
“Holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson.
The victims ranged in age from 3 to 11. Two adult women, including Elkins’ wife, were wounded and survived. Court records previously showed Elkins had a 2019 conviction for illegal use of a weapon, barring him from legally possessing a firearm under Louisiana law.
“Elkins’ death means that our community will never see him face justice. Our hope, as we continue to investigate and prosecute this case alongside our law enforcement partners, is that holding the person whose gun Elkins used to perpetrate the crime accountable will give some small bit of solace to our Shreveport community,” said Keller.