BATON ROUGE, La. (TNND) — The Baton Rouge Police Chief said one individual was killed and multiple people were injured following a gunfire exchange between two groups in a food court at the Mall of Louisiana on Thursday. Authorities described the exchange as a confrontation, not a random attack.
Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said five suspects were in custody. After the shooting, at least some of those responsible fled the scene.
“What we found out looking through surveillance video is it looks like it was kind of a targeted, two groups of people getting into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other,” Morse said.
Morse confirmed there was a total of six victims related to the incident. One individual is undergoing surgery and there are four individuals with minor injuries, he said.
He added that the investigation was ongoing. Authorities corrected the initial injury report, which had 10 injured.
“To the thugs that did this, we’re going to catch you,” said Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards.
Three high school seniors from Ascension Episcopal School were among the victims of the shooting, according to a Facebook post from Lafayette Parish President Monique Blanco Boulet.
“We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that happened today at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge,” she said, adding that she was asking her community to “join us in holding all of these families close in prayer.”
A spokesperson for the school, Rachel Delambre, said in an email she would not be discosing any additional information “out of deep respect for the families and the sensitivity of this situation.”
Morse said that “innocent people” in the area might have caught some rounds. He added there’s no threat to the public.
“Right here is the safest place in Baton Rouge,” Morse said.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry released a statement following the shooting and said he was in coordination with law enforcement. He thanked the officers for their quick response.
“I am in coordination with law enforcement and we will update as we know more. Please avoid the area,” Gov. Jeff Landry wrote in a post on X.
The incident is the second instance of gun violence in the state this week. Over the weekend, a father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own. Two women, including the gunman’s wife, who was the mother of their children, were critically wounded.
Editor’s note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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