BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A chaotic scene unfolded Thursday at the Mall of Louisiana when two groups exchanged gunfire in the food court, resulting in at least ten injuries, as confirmed by local police.
First responders rushed to the scene following reports of gunfire; however, several individuals involved in the shooting fled before police arrived. No arrests have been made at this time.
Mayor Sid Edwards issued a stern warning to the individuals responsible for the incident: “To the thugs that did this, we’re going to catch you.”
According to Police Chief TJ Morse, the altercation began with an argument between the groups before escalating into gunfire. Unfortunately, there were some innocent people in the area who might have also caught some rounds, Morse stated, indicating a number of bystanders were inadvertently harmed.
Ten victims were transported to local hospitals, with several presenting various injuries, including at least two who required surgery. Morse appealed to the public for any video evidence of the incident, stating, Right now there is no known threat to the public. Right here is the safest place in Baton Rouge.
Governor Jeff Landry expressed concern regarding the shooting and urged residents to steer clear of the area as authorities worked to resolve the situation.
Witness Nikki Lee, a WBRZ-TV employee, recounted her experience: I drove up and walked in right after the shooting. There was already a helicopter and lots of police officers going through the parking lots.
This occurrence marks the second disturbing act of gun violence in Louisiana within a week. Earlier, an individual fatally shot eight children in a tragic family incident in Shreveport.
