Police have five people in custody in connection with the shooting at the Mall of Louisiana Thursday afternoon that killed one person.
At least five others were injured as gunfire rang out at the mall food court when police said an argument between two groups of people escalated into violence.
Though five have been apprehended, none had been arrested or booked as of 8 p.m. Thursday evening.
In a news conference around 7:20 p.m, officials said the investigation is in its early stages, and detectives will question the five people apprehended overnight.
“I want to stress that this was not a random act,” said Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse. “This was a disagreement, a fight between two different groups of people that we are still trying to unravel.”
Morse said law enforcement had recovered one gun from the scene and investigators believe multiple were used, though it is unclear how many.
Bystanders, including three Ascension Episcopal School students from Lafayette who visited the mall on their “senior skip day,” were struck by bullets and caught in the crossfire. Several others were transferred to hospitals with various injuries.
FBI agents and Louisiana State Police officers were present at the Thursday evening news conference and each are aiding Baton Rouge police, who are leading the investigation.
Morse declined to release any information about the victims involved but said he hoped to on Friday.
Mayor-President Sid Edwards praised the quick response by police at the scene.
“I want everyone to know that the response to this event saved lives,” he said.