A teenager was killed, and five people were injured when an argument escalated into a gunfight at the Mall of Louisiana on Thursday afternoon.
Two groups were beefing near the food court when shots erupted at the Baton Rouge mall just before 2:30 p.m., police said at a press conference.
The six hospitalized victims were all bystanders, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse said at a press conference Thursday evening. One of them, a critically injured 17-year-old boy, died at the hospital, WAFB reported.
At least 10 people were injured in a food court shooting at the Mall of Louisiana on Thursday afternoon.
The victims were rushed to a local hospital.
Three of the victims were students at the Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, the school confirmed in a statement.
Five suspects were taken into custody later Thursday afternoon, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. Morse said that authorities “know that there are more suspects out there,” but assured there is no current threat to the public.
One shaken witness who manned the mall’s carousel told WAFB that she saw one man “turning in circles and shooting” indiscriminately.
“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,” she said.
“I did not focus in on the person holding the gun. All I could see was the gun and fire coming from the gun,” she added.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill promised to bring the hammer down on the gunmen responsible.
“This kind of violence in a place where my family and so many others routinely shop is completely unacceptable. This lawlessness will NOT stand in Louisiana. Once these individuals are found—and I’m confident they will be—they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” she wrote on X.
Baton Rouge’s Mayor-President Sid Edwards also issued a chilling warning to the cowardly gunmen.
Police said five suspects have been arrested. WAFB
One of the victims was killed in the shooting. AP
Gov. Landry confirmed there was an active shooter just before 3 p.m. AP“To the thugs who did this, we are going to catch you,” he said.
The Baton Rouge Police Department said that “all injured persons” were transported off-site. It didn’t specify how many victims were accounted for in total.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry confirmed the “active shooter scene” just before 3 p.m.
“Sharon and I are praying for those affected and are grateful for a quick response by our law enforcement officials,” he wrote on X.
The shooting is still under investigation.
