Teen killed, 5 wounded in Mall of Louisiana shooting

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Six people were wounded and one of them, a 17-year-old, died after gunfire rang out in the food court area of the Mall of Louisiana on Bluebonnet Boulevard in Baton Rouge about 1:22 p.m. Thursday.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office identified the teen killed as Martha Odom.

Signi Dreyer, who works at the carousel inside the mall, said she was cleaning when she heard gunshots and saw a gunman “turning in circles and shooting.” She said it appeared the person was “shooting randomly.”

“I heard a loud bang and then another loud bang,” Dreyer said. “At first, I thought someone was shooting fireworks in the food court. I turned around, and I saw people dropping to the ground, and I immediately saw the gun.”

Police said the gunfire was the result of a confrontation between two groups and not a random shooting. Within hours, authorities announced five suspects were in custody, including one arrested in Livingston Parish.

During a news update on Friday, police announced they arrested one suspect and charged him with murder. The other detainees are not facing charges at this time.

Mall shooting suspect charged with murder, new image of person wanted

Police also released an image of a person still wanted.

Sheriff Jason Ard with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office said investigators cannot confirm the person detained earlier in Watson, now identified as Marcus Washington, 18, was involved in the shooting. Ard said Washington was arrested and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center after investigators found him in possession of Schedule II narcotics and a firearm.

Ard also added that the investigation remains ongoing and questions about the mall shooting should be directed to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse said all six victims appear to have been innocent bystanders and not part of the confrontation. “The incident that transpired today is completely unacceptable,” Morse said.

Morse declined to identify the victims Thursday evening, saying he wanted to allow time for their families to be notified.

At least three of the wounded were from a high school in Lafayette, Louisiana, leaders in that city confirmed.

“The victims include three seniors from Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette,” Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet said in a statement. “We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that happened,” Boulet said.

Morse urged members of the public to come forward with any information they might have, including videos that might show the shooting or its aftermath.

In a Thursday evening news conference, East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards praised the prompt response of law enforcement and paramedics to a “chaotic and dangerous” situation. “Violence like this will not be tolerated in Baton Rouge,” Edwards said.

A Baton Rouge police officer was on patrol in the mall when the incident occurred, authorities said.

Morse said he believes more suspects are out there. “In no way is this investigation over, and we do believe more people are involved,” Morse said.

Charles Koger, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans Division, said the FBI is providing a supporting role and will provide any needed resources.

The Mall of Louisiana confirmed it will be closed on Friday, April 24.

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a statement:

Our Lady of the Lake Hospital issued a statement:

Multiple officials have released statements about the shooting:

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry released a statement on Friday condemning the “violence that has shaken our community.”

Furthermore, she said in part:

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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