Five people were taken into custody following a deadly exchange of gunfire at the Mall of Louisiana on the afternoon of April 23 that left one person dead and five others wounded, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas “T.J.” Morse Jr. said.
Two groups clashed in a verbal confrontation inside the food court around 1:22 p.m. on April 23, 2026, before opening fire on each other amid the lunchtime crowd at Louisiana’s largest shopping center, according to Morse. The violence sent shoppers and employees running for safety as bullets struck bystanders caught in the crossfire.
“Two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other,” Morse said. “Unfortunately, there were some innocent people who were in the area that might have also caught some rounds.”
The deceased victim, Martha Odom, 17, was at the mall with friends for “senior skip day” before graduation. She was the captain of her soccer team, editor of her school newspaper and a teacher at her dance school. The coroner’s office reported she died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Among those hit were three high school seniors from Ascension Episcopal School, a PK3-through-12 school in Lafayette, according to Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet, who announced the news in a Facebook post.
“We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that happened today at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge,” Boulet wrote, asking the community to “join us in holding all of these families close in prayer.”
Rachel Delcambre, a spokesperson for the school, declined to release further information, citing “deep respect for the families and the sensitivity of this situation.”
Morse, citing surveillance footage, said the violence began as a verbal clash that escalated within seconds. According to officials briefed on the investigation, there is no known continuing threat to the public. Morse described the incident as a “very targeted kind of disagreement” and pledged to track down anyone else connected to the shooting. One firearm was recovered at the scene. Police said the shooting likely had ties to gang activity and social media disputes.
Four victims suffered minor injuries, while one victim, Donnie Guillory, 43, a member of the Baton Rouge Soccer Club’s Unified Soccer program for athletes with special needs, remained in critical condition the evening of April 23, officials said, revising an initial estimate that 10 people had been hurt. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said some innocent bystanders were struck by the gunfire.
“This is still an ongoing investigation, and we’re still looking for more people who may be involved,” Morse said.
A Baton Rouge Police officer assigned to the mall and a sheriff’s deputy in the parking lot rushed toward the gunfire as it broke out. Detectives are still piecing together how many weapons were fired and how many shooters were involved.
The shooting triggered a chaotic scene of screaming shoppers and cowering store clerks, drawing a heavy law enforcement response that included the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“Everybody was running and screaming,” Theriot told The Associated Press. “I thought it could have been a terrorist attack.”
By late afternoon, dozens of police cruisers were clustered in the parking lot. Helicopters hovered overhead. Officers in bulletproof vests patrolled the grounds. Mall spokesperson Lindsay Kahn called it a “frightening day” and confirmed the mall would not reopen on April 23.
Four of the five detainees were released. A 17-year-old suspect named Markel Lee turned himself in on Friday, April 24, and was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal use of a firearm. He had his first court appearance on Monday, April 27, before Commissioner Kory Tauzin and was held without bond. Surveillance footage from the food court showed Lee holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol. Detectives confirmed his identity after showing a screenshot to his grandmother, who identified him. Police are still searching for one additional person wanted for questioning. Lee’s next court date is set for August 20. Meanwhile, Guillory underwent a second surgery, and his prognosis is considered positive, with officials reporting his condition was improving as of April 26. A candlelight vigil was held at the mall on April 27, attended by community leaders and local officials.
Federal agents joined the investigation at the scene and assisted local police with ballistics. Forensic work was expected to continue for several days. Investigators were continuing to collect surveillance footage and appealing for witnesses to share any video they recorded.
The April 23 bloodshed compounds a week of grief across Louisiana. On Sunday morning, April 19, in a Shreveport neighborhood, a father fatally shot eight children — seven of his own and one nephew — in a mass shooting that shook Louisiana. Two women, including the gunman’s wife, were critically wounded.
Gov. Jeff Landry, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards, and Attorney General Murrill all responded to the shooting. The quick succession of violent incidents has rattled public officials grappling with how to respond.