Mall food court brawl leaves one dead, five injured

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Summary: Martha Odom, 17, was fatally shot April 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when gunfire broke out during a "dispute" inside a shopping mall, authorities said. Five others, including two senior citizens, were wounded. Authorities announced Friday that 17-year-old Markel Lee turned himself in to police and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, reports say.

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BATON ROUGE, La. — Gunfire erupted in the food court of the Mall of Louisiana on Thursday afternoon after an argument between two groups escalated, killing a 17-year-old high school senior and wounding five other innocent bystanders, police said.

The confrontation began shortly before 1:22 p.m. on April 23 when members of the two groups began arguing in the busy shopping area. Within moments, shots rang out as at least one gunman opened fire. All six victims were bystanders not involved in the dispute, according to Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse. Martha Odom, 17, a senior at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette who was at the mall with friends on senior skip day, was struck in the chest and died from her injuries, the East Baton Rouge Parish coroner’s office reported.

Five others suffered gunshot wounds. Among them were two of Odom’s classmates from the same Lafayette school. A 43-year-old man, Donnie Guillory, remained in critical condition at a local hospital. Authorities have not released the names of the other wounded.

A mall carousel worker, Signi Dreyer, told investigators she was cleaning nearby when she first heard what sounded like fireworks. She then saw a gunman turning in circles while firing, prompting people to drop to the ground. “It appeared the person was shooting randomly,” she said.

Police responded quickly and took five suspects into custody within hours, including one arrested in nearby Livingston Parish. On Friday, authorities charged 17-year-old Markel Lee with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and illegal use of a firearm. He turned himself in and is being held in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Officers released a photo of at least one additional person they believe was involved and continue to seek information from the public, including any video footage.

During the investigation, officers also detained 18-year-old Marcus Washington Jr. in nearby Watson. Police emphasized he could not be confirmed as a participant in the shooting and booked him instead on charges of possession of Schedule II narcotics and a firearm.

The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine the full sequence of events and any additional suspects.

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