Police said a food court argument between two groups led to gunfire at the Baton Rouge mall.
BATON ROUGE, LA — A 17-year-old was killed and five other people were wounded Thursday when gunfire broke out in the food court at the Mall of Louisiana, police said, after an argument between two groups turned into a shooting.
The shooting brought a large police response to one of Baton Rouge’s busiest shopping centers and forced shoppers, workers and students to shelter or run from the building. Authorities said five people were in custody Thursday night, but Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse said investigators believed more people were involved. The mall said it was closed after what it called a “senseless act of violence” and would remain closed Friday.
Police said calls about shots fired came in about 1:22 p.m. Thursday from the mall on Bluebonnet Boulevard. Officers said the gunfire started near the food court after two groups began arguing. Morse said surveillance video showed the clash before shots were fired. “It does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Morse said outside the mall. “Two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other.” He said people who were not part of the dispute were caught in the area when bullets were fired.
Authorities first reported a higher injury count, then later said six people had been shot, including the person who died. Local reports identified the victim as Martha Odom, a 17-year-old senior at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette. Three people connected to the school were among the victims, officials said. At least two people needed surgery, police said. Officials did not immediately release the full names of the wounded or give a complete list of their conditions. Police said one handgun had been recovered, but they had not said how many guns were used.
Five people were taken into custody within hours of the shooting, including one person apprehended in Livingston Parish, authorities said. Police had not announced formal charges or released the suspects’ names by late Thursday. Morse said detectives were reviewing security footage and other video from inside the mall. “In no way is this investigation over, and we do believe more people are involved,” he said. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were assisting local police. Officials said there was no continuing threat to the public after the mall was secured.
The shooting caused panic across the two-level shopping center as customers and employees heard shots and moved toward exits, back rooms and locked storefronts. Some people were later escorted out by law enforcement. A Baton Rouge police officer was already patrolling inside the mall when the shooting happened, and East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies working extra duty were also on site, officials said. Sheriff’s officials said deputies helped render aid, move people out of the building and secure the scene while more officers arrived.
Witness accounts described a sudden rush of noise and confusion. Signi Dreyer, who works at the carousel inside the mall, told a local station she was cleaning when she heard gunfire and saw a gunman “turning in circles and shooting.” Stanley Jackson, a FedEx employee who was on the mall’s second level, said he heard what sounded like several guns and then saw people running. Other workers said they hid in storage areas or helped shoppers move away from open walkways as officers swept the building.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was coordinating with law enforcement soon after reports of an active shooter. Attorney General Liz Murrill said District Attorney Hillar Moore was monitoring the case as officers responded to reports of one or more weapons being fired in the food court. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards said investigators would work to hold those responsible accountable. School and local officials in Lafayette also issued statements after learning that Ascension Episcopal students were among the victims.
The Mall of Louisiana said it was working with Baton Rouge police and assisting the investigation. “We are heartbroken and angered that our shopping center was the location for today’s horrific incident,” the mall said in a statement. “This has been a frightening day for our shopping center community, and our thoughts are with all of those who were impacted by this senseless act of violence.” The mall said updates on reopening and operations would be shared later.
The shooting came days after another deadly Louisiana attack in Shreveport, where authorities said eight children were killed. Officials did not link the Baton Rouge mall shooting to that case. In Baton Rouge, police described Thursday’s violence as a targeted confrontation between groups, not a random attack on shoppers. Still, bystanders were among those struck, and the busy food court setting left many witnesses and families waiting for answers late into the night.
As of Friday, April 24, investigators were reviewing video, interviewing witnesses and preparing arrest warrants. The mall remained closed Friday, and police had not released a full charging list or a complete timeline of what led to the argument.
Author note: Last updated Friday, April 24, 2026.