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One person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a Louisiana shopping mall Thursday in which two groups opened fire at each other, police said.
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The shooting occurred at 1:22 p.m. local time near the food court at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, city police said.
Five suspects were taken into custody, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said. They have not been arrested but are being detained and interviewed, he said.
“This was not a random act. This was a disagreement, a fight between two different groups of people that we are still trying to unravel,” Morse said. “And unfortunately, innocent victims got caught in the crossfire.”
Of the five injured, one person was in critical condition Wednesday evening, police said. Others had minor injuries.
None of the victims are suspects in the shooting, police said.
It is believed that handguns were used in the shooting and one handgun was recovered, Morse said.
Police initially said that 10 people were injured, but later revised that to one dead and five injured.
Police did not release more information Thursday about the person killed or those hurt, including their ages.
Three of the victims are high school seniors, Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet said.
Todd Terrell, president of the United Cajun Navy, was at the Dillard’s at the mall with five people his charitable group was assisting when he heard shots ring out and people running.
Terrell said he heard around 15 to 20 shots. “It sounded like a fully automatic gun,” he said.
Terrell said he had been thinking of going to the food court but didn’t because he is on a strict diet.
“Thank God I was a sticking to my diet, because I was wanting some chicken shawarma,” he said. “I would have been there.”
Had the shooting happened later in the day there could have been more victims, Terrell said.
“It could have been worse. It’s prom season. If it was later in the day there could have been more people there,” he said. “We’re just in bad times right now.”
The Mall of Louisiana was closed after the shooting.
“We are heart broken and angered that our shopping center was the location for today’s horrific incident,” the mall said in a statement.
Gov. Jeff Landry said his thoughts were with the victims of the shooting and he thanked law enforcement.
“Sharon and I are praying for those affected and are grateful for a quick response by our law enforcement officials,” Landry said in a statement.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and police are looking for additional people who may have been involved, Morse said.
Police were asking for anyone to share cellphone video they may have of the incident, he said.
“We know that there are more suspects out there,” Morse said.
Mayor Sid Edwards thanked the community after the arrests were announced.
“People are starting to talk now,” he said. “I want to thank the people who contacted Crimestoppers and the people who had the video and the people who have the evidence. God bless you.”
A Baton Rouge police officer was assigned to the mall at the time of the shooting and immediately responded, and an East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputy was in the mall parking lot at the time and also went to help, Morse said.
Edwards said that the quick response of law enforcement and first responders saved lives.
He said that police “almost immediately” were able to identify suspects through surveillance footage.
The shooting happened about 250 miles from Shreveport, where eight children were killed on Sunday.
Seven of those young victims were the children of suspect Shamar Elkins, 31, who was killed in a confrontation with police after he carjacked a person at gunpoint, officials said.
Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.
Senior Breaking News Reporter
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