According to police, two groups exchanged gunfire in the food court of the Mall of Louisiana in the city of Baton Rouge, causing the death of at least one person and wounding five others. Some of those responsible fled the scene, but the Police claim to have arrested at least 5 suspects. It is the second mass shooting in the state in a week.

First modification: 04/24/2026 - 00:25Last modification: 04/24/2026 - 00:31

Louisiana is once again in suspense due to a shooting with multiple injuries, this time in the Mall of Louisiana shopping center in Baton Rouge, the second most populated city in the state.

According to the most recent police report, at least one person died and five others were injured this Thursday, April 23, after two groups faced gunfire inside the food court at around 1:30 p.m. (local time).

The local police chief, TJ Morse, indicated that this was not a random act of violence but rather a "targeted" shooting that began after an argument between both sides, leading to the shooting.

After initially stating that there were a dozen injured, Morse later reduced the number to five, detailing that one needed surgery, while the other four suffered minor injuries. All were taken to area hospitals.

Some of those responsible fled the scene when they saw the large deployment in the area, but the Police confirmed an hour after the incident that they had arrested at least five people possibly related to the shooting.

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Shortly after mobilizing officers to the area, Morse indicated that "at this time there is no known threat to the public" and emphasized that "this is the safest place in Baton Rouge." He also asked witnesses to provide any video they have of the incident.

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For his part, the local mayor, Sid Edwards, went to the scene of the shooting, and highlighted that "all civilians have been safely escorted out of the shopping center."

According to local media, the place remains under a perimeter closure, vehicle access is restricted to ambulances and police patrols, and police teams are searching premises by premises to secure the area and find possible suspects.

"The criminals who did this, we are going to catch them (...) I have full confidence in our partners in law enforcement; we are going to go out, catch these individuals and get them off the streets," said Sid Edwards.

Likewise, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry confirmed that he was aware of the shooting, advised the public to avoid the area and stated that he and his wife, Sharon, are "praying for those affected."

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Scenes of chaos and panic in the shopping center

According to local media, the initial scenes were one of panic, with people running to seek refuge in some businesses or on the emergency stairs.

Consulted by the AP agency, Kennedy Barnum, a 22-year-old girl, said that she had gone to the mall for lunch when she heard a woman talking on the phone outside, saying "I'll call you later, there's an active shooter."

According to Barnum, police arrived en masse at the scene in just five minutes and she could see people running and crying, including a girl whom she described as "hysterical."

"We spoke to a security guard and she told us that there was an active shooter, that there were people wounded by gunshots and that we should leave immediately," he explained.

"I arrived by car and went in right after the shooting. There was already a helicopter and a lot of police patrolling the parking lots," he explained.

Second Louisiana shooting in a week

This is the second incident of gun violence in Louisiana this week. On Sunday morning, April 19, a father shot and killed eight children, seven of them his own, in an attack against his family that affected two homes in a Shreveport neighborhood, according to police.

Likewise, two women, including the wife of the attacker and mother of the children, were seriously injured.

"All evidence and indications point to this stemming from a domestic dispute," Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said at a news conference Monday.

At that time, the Police also indicated that they were not clear if the shooter, whom they identified as Shamar Elkins – who was convicted in 2019 for illegal possession of a firearm – died in the exchange of gunfire with the agents when he tried to flee in a car or if he committed suicide.

Before these two incidents in Louisiana, the Gun Violence Archive recorded at least 119 mass shootings in the United States – considered as such when there are at least four dead or injured, not including the attacker – so far this year, which have caused 117 deaths, including 79 children, and 458 people injured.

According to that same source, the North American country recorded 407 mass shootings in 2025.

Read alsoUnited States: eight children die in a shooting in Louisiana

With AP, EFE, Reuters and local media

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