Markel Lee, a 17-year-old with a prior juvenile history, turned himself in and was arrested as the primary suspect in the deadly Mall of Louisiana food court shooting that killed Martha Elizabeth Odom and wounded five others.
Lee is being charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal use of a weapon.
The shooting occurred on Thursday at around 1:22 p.m. near the mall's food court, resulting in one death and five injuries.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. stated that the incident was not a random act, but rather a disagreement between two groups that escalated into a fight.
The victim, Martha Elizabeth Odom, a senior at Ascension Episcopal School, was identified as the one who died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
A statement from the school mourned her loss, remembering her as a joyful presence whose kindness and infectious enthusiasm brought light to all who knew her.
