One person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a shopping mall in the US state of Louisiana, NBC News reported. Two groups opened fire on each other in the food court area of the "Louisiana" mall in the state capital of Baton Rouge.
Five people were taken into custody by police in connection with the shooting. They have not been arrested, but are being held and questioned. Law enforcement is searching for more people who may have been involved in the shooting.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said the shooting occurred after a conflict between the two groups, and investigators are still trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. "Unfortunately, innocent victims were caught in the crossfire," he said.
One of the five injured, one person, was hospitalized in critical condition, while others escaped with minor injuries. It is believed that the injured and the victim were not involved in the shooting. Guns were fired, one of which was recovered by police.
During the shooting, the president of the United Cajun Navy charity was in the mall with five people the organization is helping when he heard gunshots and saw people running. He heard about 15 to 20 shots. "It sounded like an automatic gun," he said.
"If the shooting had happened later in the day, there could have been more casualties," Terrell said. "It could have been worse. It's prom season. If it had been later in the day, there could have been more people there," he added.
The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone who was at the mall and took pictures during the shooting to come forward with their phone footage. "We know there are more suspects," Thomas Morse Jr. said.