A Louisiana mall shooting claimed the life of a teenager who had recently returned from a spring break trip to New York City and was enjoying “senior skip day” when the tragedy occurred.
Seventeen-year-old Martha Odom was celebrating her impending high school graduation with two friends when she was caught in a crossfire between two rival groups in the food court at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday, according to officials.
“We grieve the loss of one of our seniors, Martha Odom, following yesterday’s off-campus tragedy,” Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette stated on Friday. “We continue to lift in prayer the two students who are healing, as well as the two additional students who were present.”
The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office announced that Odom died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Her death was ruled a homicide, and five others were injured, including two of Odom’s classmates.
According to NOLA, Odom had excitedly recounted her spring break trip to New York City exactly one week before the incident. As an editor for the student newspaper The Authored Ascension, she provided a detailed account of her Manhattan adventure.
In an April 16 article, Odom wrote, “This spring break was one to remember for my family as we took a much-anticipated trip to New York City! This visit was the senior trip I picked for my family. The balance of city bustle and blooming spring flowers is unmatched, and I am so blessed to have been able to visit during this time of year!”
Odom’s busy week of sightseeing included visits to Raising Cane’s in Times Square with her sister, dining at Carmine’s restaurant, attending the Easter Bonnet Festival, watching a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden, and enjoying several Broadway shows, along with other iconic tourist spots.
Planning to attend the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, in the fall, Odom was a captain of her school’s girls’ soccer team, passionate about the arts, and taught ballet to 5 and 6-year-olds at her local ballet center, as noted in her author profile.
The Ballet Studio expressed their sorrow on Facebook: “Our hearts are shattered. We lost one of our own. Our beautiful dancer, Martha Odom. A bright light — fearless, joyful, full of life. The kind of soul that fills a room without even trying.” They continued, “Our studio feels different today. Quieter. Heavier. As if a piece of us is missing… because it is.”
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized the violence leading to Odom’s death. “Becky and I are heartbroken over the devastating loss of Martha Odom,” Kennedy wrote on Facebook. “Martha was a 17-year-old high school student beloved by all who knew her. Her life should never have been cut short by the senseless violence we saw at the Mall of Louisiana. Our prayers are with her family, friends, and community—and all those injured in this tragedy.”
Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Boulet expressed her shock upon hearing of Odom’s death. “Martha Odom was just a really great, hardworking young woman. Ready for some great things in life, and so it’s tragic, and it’s sad,” Boulet said, according to WAFB. “Youngsters with guns is never a good idea unless it’s in a blind hunting ducks. Teenagers… You know, it’s tough.”
On Friday, Markel Lee, 17, turned himself in to the police in connection with the shooting, the Baton Rouge Police Department reported. The suspect faces charges of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, and illegal use of a weapon.
He is currently held in East Baton Rouge Jail without bond, as indicated by inmate records viewed by The Post.
Authorities also released a photo of another individual linked to the shooting. The unidentified person, captured on mall security cameras, appears to be a black male wearing a blue hoodie.
