17-Year-Old Charged With First-Degree Murder After Mass Shooting at Mall of Louisiana Kills High School Senior

Martha Odom, a 17-year-old high school senior, was killed during a mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana on Thursday. The shooting also left five others injured.

According to Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr., officers responded to the mass shooting at around 1:22 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 23.

"Our investigators learned a total of six victims, one of whom unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. We're not going to be sharing any information tonight about those victims, so the families are able to adequately notify next of kin," said Morse, per WDSU News.

According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's office, Martha Odom passed away from a gunshot wound to the chest, and her manner of death was ruled as homicide.

The Acadiana Advocate reported that Odom, a high school senior at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, was among the group of Acadiana students at the mall for "Senior Skip Day" on Thursday, when the shots were fired.

During the aforementioned press conference, Morse shared that when the shots rang out at 1:22 p.m. on Thursday, a Baton Rouge Police Department officer stationed at the mall and a deputy with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office present in the parking lot of the mall immediately responded.

"Within minutes, we had dozens of law enforcement officials from all across the area responding to the scene," he added.

The shooting, which claimed Odom's life, stemmed from an altercation between two groups in the mall's food court, according to authorities.

Authorities announced Friday that Markel Lee, 17, was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illegal use of a weapon

Odom's school released a statement saying, , "Today, our hearts are heavy. We grieve the loss of one of our seniors, Martha Odom, following yesterday’s off-campus tragedy. We continue to lift in prayer the two students who are healing, as well as the two additional students who were present. Ascension Episcopal School carries this cross together— we are holding one another close with an immense amount of faith and love."

According to the school's statement, classmates, faculty and Blue Gator families — Ascension Episcopal School's community — described Martha as "a joyful presence whose kindness and infectious enthusiasm brought light to all who knew her."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a Facebook post that she has been friends with the Odom family for "decades"

"There are no words for the devastating loss of innocent life. I’m praying for her, her family and friends, and the entire Lafayette community during this heartbreaking time. Those responsible for this senseless violence must face the full force of the law," she added.

Monique Blanco Boulet, the Lafayette Parish Mayor-President, issued a statement on Facebook saying, "We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that happened today at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. The victims include three seniors from Ascension Episcopal School here in Lafayette."