At least 10 people were injured in a shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday afternoon. According to BBC, the incident occurred when two groups began shooting at each other after an argument in the food court. Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr stated that innocent bystanders might have been caught in the crossfire.
Key Takeaways
A shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge left at least 10 people injured after two groups exchanged gunfire in the food court. The incident is not considered random but rather a targeted disagreement between the groups. Authorities are searching for suspects and have urged witnesses to share video footage.
- At least 10 people were injured, with some requiring surgery
- Two groups engaged in an argument before opening fire on each other
- Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr confirmed it was not a random act of violence
- Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are involved in the investigation
The Guardian reported that authorities are searching for suspects with assistance from multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Morse added that 10 people were taken to nearby hospitals, with at least two requiring surgery. He urged anyone who witnessed the incident to share any video footage.
According to CBS News, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed its response to the scene but did not provide further information. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said on social media he was "aware of the active shooter scene at the Mall of Louisiana" and urged people to avoid the area.
The incident follows another shooting earlier this week in Louisiana, where eight children were killed and two adults were wounded in a mass shooting in Shreveport, according to The Guardian. The Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed that reports of shots fired at the mall's food court started coming in at 1:22 p.m. Thursday.
According to dailymail.com, an unknown number of victims are in critical condition, with some being rushed into emergency surgery. Panicked people were seen running out of the building and into the parking lot as authorities escorted them to their vehicles. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted on X after hearing of the shooting, urging residents to avoid the area.
According to UPI, one person has been confirmed dead, unnamed sources told multiple media outlets Thursday. In a Facebook post at 4:25 p.m., the Baton Rouge Police Department said it had five suspects in custody and the mall was secure. The Advocate, WAFB-TV, and WBRZ-TV all reported the fatality.
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