Baton Rouge Mall Food Court Shooting Victim Identified; Teen Suspect Charged With Murder
A 17-year-old high school senior, Martha Odom, was killed and a teen suspect is charged after a shooting in the Mall of Louisiana food court this week in Baton Rouge.
Police say 17-year-old Markel Lee surrendered and was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal use of a weapon. Officials said one person died from a gunshot wound and several others were wounded; at least five people were taken to hospitals, and investigators later described about 10 people as injured. Authorities released a surveillance image seeking a second suspect and said Lee is the only one of five initially detained who remains in custody. Attorney General Liz Murrill identified herself as a friend of the victim's family and urged patience as investigators work the case. Governor Jeff Landry thanked law enforcement, said he was coordinating with investigators, and urged the public to avoid the Mall of Louisiana area.
Officials say the shooting erupted after an argument between two rival groups in the mall food court, rather than from a lone random attacker. Three Ascension Episcopal School seniors were among those caught in the crossfire, and at least five students from that school were present at the mall. Residents and local commentators say the incident has deepened worries about gang-related violence and the safety of public spaces once seen as safe teen hangouts. At the same time, overall homicides in East Baton Rouge Parish fell to 106 in 2025 from 125 in 2024, complicating broader trends about violent crime.
Early coverage described an active shooter and treated the incident as a mass shooting while images showed a major police response. As investigators interviewed witnesses, officials shifted to say the shooting stemmed from a feud between two groups; CBS, PBS, Fox, and the Guardian reported this change. The Guardian brought the newest details identifying the victim and naming the suspect who surrendered and was charged.
Show source details & analysis
📊 Relevant Data
In East Baton Rouge Parish, the number of homicides decreased to 106 in 2025 from 125 in 2024. ([East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office](https://www.ebrcoroner.com/news)) ([East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office](https://www.ebrcoroner.com/news)) ([East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office](https://www.ebrcoroner.com/news))
News | East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. Beau Clark — East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office
📌 Key Facts
- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry confirmed on X that authorities were responding to an active shooter at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, urged the public to avoid the area, and publicly thanked law enforcement as images showed a major police presence.
- Attorney General Liz Murrill and mall officials said the shooting occurred in the mall's food court; the mall spokesperson confirmed a shooting and deferred questions to police, and Murrill — who said she is a friend of the victim's family — called for those responsible to face the full force of the law.
- Investigators told reporters the violence stemmed from an argument between two rival groups in the food court rather than a lone random attacker; news outlets framed the incident as a mass shooting.
- Initial police updates said at least 10 people were injured; subsequent officials confirmed one person died and at least five people were taken to the hospital.
- The coroner identified the person killed as 17-year-old high school senior Martha Odom, who died from a gunshot wound to the chest; officials said she was one of three Ascension Episcopal School seniors caught in the crossfire and that at least five school students were present during the shooting.
- Police said 17-year-old Markel Lee surrendered and was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal use of a weapon; Lee is the only one of five initially detained who remains in custody, with four others released pending further investigation.
- Authorities released a surveillance image and asked the public for help identifying a second suspect who remains at large.
📰 Source Timeline (8)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Coroner identified the person killed as 17-year-old high school senior Martha Odom, who died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
- Officials confirmed Martha was one of three Ascension Episcopal School seniors caught in the crossfire; at least five school students were present during the shooting.
- Police said 17-year-old Markel Lee surrendered and was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal use of a weapon.
- Police stated Lee is the only one of the five initially detained who remains in custody; the other four were released pending further investigation.
- Authorities released a surveillance image and asked for public help identifying a second suspect who remains at large.
- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement identifying herself as a friend of the Odom family and calling for those responsible to face the full force of the law.
- Officials now say one person died in the Louisiana mall shooting, in addition to five people injured.
- CBS frames the mall shooting update together with a separate, emerging story about a mass shooting plot targeting the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
- CBS characterizes the shooters as two 'rival groups' involved in a feud that escalated in the food court.
- Confirms at least five people were taken to the hospital after the gunfire.
- Reinforces that the confrontation and shooting occurred specifically in the food court area of the Mall of Louisiana.
- Mini-report reiterates that 10 people were injured in the Louisiana shopping mall shooting, framed as the latest mass shooting in the state.
- No new details are added beyond what is already in the existing Baton Rouge mall story.
- Police now say at least 10 people were injured in the Mall of Louisiana shooting.
- Investigators attribute the shooting to an argument between two groups, rather than a lone random attacker.
- CBS segment frames the incident as a mass shooting and notes that law enforcement has provided this causal account.
- Attorney General Liz Murrill said the shooting occurred in the mall's food court.
- Mall spokesperson Lindsay Kahn confirmed that a shooting happened and referred questions to police.
- Governor Landry publicly thanked law enforcement and said he and his wife were grateful for the quick response.
- Images posted online showed a major police presence at the mall.
- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry publicly confirmed on X that authorities were responding to an 'active shooter' at the Mall of Louisiana.
- Landry stated he was in coordination with law enforcement and urged the public to avoid the area.
- Officials have not yet confirmed the number of injuries or fatalities or what led to the shooting.