At least one person was killed and five others were injured after gunfire erupted inside the food court of Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Friday, authorities confirmed.
Shooting Details
Police reported that the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between two groups and was not a random attack. Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse stated that five people had been taken into custody and there was no ongoing threat to the public. The incident began around 1:30 pm when an argument between the two groups escalated into gunfire. Authorities initially indicated as many as 10 people were injured but later revised the number to five.
Witness Accounts
According to police and witnesses, the shooting sent shoppers and employees scrambling for safety. Desire Batton, who works at a clothing store, described how she and colleagues rushed into a breakroom. “We hid in there until cops came and got us,” Batton said. Witness Kennedy Barnum recounted seeing people running and crying after hearing reports of an active shooter. “We should leave immediately,” she recalled being told by a security guard.
Police Response
Police appealed for witnesses to share any videos of the shooting. By late afternoon, dozens of police vehicles remained at the scene, helicopters circled overhead, and armed officers continued patrols. Mall spokesperson Lindsay Kahn called it a “frightening day” and confirmed that the mall would remain closed for the rest of the day.
