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A 17-year-old tragically lost her life in a shooting at the Mall of Louisiana, with officials confirming she was an innocent bystander caught amidst the chaos.
BATON ROUGE, La. — The victim, a 17-year-old, was fatally shot during an incident at the Mall of Louisiana when an altercation between two groups spiraled into a deadly gunfight.
Martha Odom, a student at Ascension Episcopal School in Youngsville, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery, as reported by WWL. Two other students from her school were also injured in the incident.
A 43-year-old man remains critically injured and is still receiving medical care, authorities stated during a press briefing on Friday.
Police explained that the violence erupted in the food court of the Baton Rouge mall after a dispute between two groups escalated into gunfire.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said that Odom and her classmates were “innocent victims that got caught in the crossfire” and had no connection to the initial dispute.
During Friday’s press conference, Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards shared scripture that Odom posted on social media just days ago before she lost her life in the shooting.
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity?” Edwards shared, added that “Martha’s powerful worlds should do just that — unite this community.”
Arrest in Mall of Louisiana mass shooting, search for more suspects
Chief Morse announced Friday the arrest of 17-year-old Markel Lee in connection with the mass shooting. Lee has been charged with first degree murder and five counts of attempted first degree murder. Authorities also shared the photo of another individual who they are searching for in connection with the case.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry put some of the blame on the suspect’s parents.
“The beginning of this failure was at home,” Landry said Friday.
‘Targeted Shooting’
While five people were taken into custody after the deadly mass shooting, police said Friday that others detained in this case — besides Lee — have been released for now.
Morse said the shooting appears to have been targeted and started after an argument between two groups of people in the food court around 1:22 p.m. on Thursday.
Six people were shot, according to investigators. Of the five survivors, one remains in a serious condition. Four others were treated for minor injuries.
The mall was placed on lockdown following Thursday’s gunfire. Investigators are still working to determine how those in custody are connected to the shooting.
The Mall of Louisiana remained closed on Friday. In a statement posted to Facebook, mall officials said the closure is out of respect for those affected by the violence.
“Our deepest sympathies are with everyone who was impacted by the senseless act of violence that took place here today,” the statement said. “Out of respect for the victims, Mall of Louisiana will be closed Friday, April 24, 2026.”
Officials said information about retrieving personal belongings left at the mall and future operating hours will be shared as it becomes available.