Louisiana mall mass shooting victim ID’d as high school senior Martha Odom who went on NYC trip week before tragedy
Share this @internewscast.com

A Louisiana teenager, tragically caught in a mall shooting, was participating in “senior skip day” after recently returning from a spring break adventure in New York City. Authorities have since apprehended a suspect linked to the incident.

Martha Odom, aged 17, was savoring the last stretch of her high school journey alongside two friends when she became an unintended victim during a violent clash between two groups inside the Mall of Louisiana’s food court in Baton Rouge on Thursday, according to officials.

“We mourn the loss of our senior, Martha Odom, following yesterday’s tragic off-campus event,” Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette expressed in a statement on Friday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the two students who are recovering, as well as the other two who were present.”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office reported that Odom succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest.

Her death has been classified as a homicide, and five additional individuals, including two of Odom’s classmates, were injured in the shooting.

Just a week prior to the incident, Odom had shared her excitement about her recent trip to New York City, as reported by NOLA.

The senior, who was an editor for the student newspaper The Authored Ascencion, shared a detailed recap of her trip to Manhattan.

“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,” Odom wrote in the April 16 article. “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 jam-packed sightseeing week excursion included stops at Raising Cane’s in Times Square with her sister, dinner at Carmine’s restaurant, the Easter Bonnet Festival, watching a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden and multiple Broadway shows, along with stops at famed tourist attractions.

Odom, who was expected to attend the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., in the fall, was a captain of her school’s girls’ soccer team, an avid lover of the arts and a dancer teaching 5 and 6-year-olds at her local ballet center, according to her author profile.

“Our hearts are shattered. We lost one of our own. Our beautiful dancer, Martha Odom,” The Ballet Studio wrote on Facebook. “A bright light — fearless, joyful, full of life. The kind of soul that fills a room without even trying.

“Our studio feels different today. Quieter. Heavier. As if a piece of us is missing… because it is,” the studio said.

Sen. John Kennedy (R. La.) slammed the violence that led 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 said her “heart dropped” after learning 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 over to police for his involvement in the shooting, the Baton Rouge Police Department announced.

The alleged gunman was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder and one count of illegal use of a weapon.

He is being held in East Baton Rouge Jail without bond, according to inmate records viewed by The Post.

Police also shared a photo of another person “connected to the shooting.”

The unidentified individual captured on security cameras inside the mall appears to be a black male wearing a blue hoodie.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Spencer Pratt blasts LA's $40M MacArthur Park plan

Spencer Pratt Criticizes LA’s $40M Investment in MacArthur Park Redevelopment

Amidst plans to inject $40 million into revitalizing Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park,…
Elizabeth Smart flexes new chapter, racks up bodybuilding honors in stunning transformation

From Survivor to Champion: Elizabeth Smart’s Inspiring Bodybuilding Journey

Elizabeth Smart, renowned for her remarkable survival story, is venturing into an…
Chicago shootings this weekend: At least 10 shot, 2 fatally, in gun violence across city, police department says

Wauconda High School Career Advisor and College of Lake County Employee, Adam Faulkner, Faces Charges of Grooming and Solicitation

In Wauconda, Illinois, troubling news has emerged from the local high school,…
Trump DOJ dropping criminal probe of Jerome Powell over central bank renovations

DOJ Ends Investigation into Fed Chair Powell’s Renovation Project

The Department of Justice has decided to end its criminal investigation into…
NYPD cop opens fire on career criminal who shot man outside NYC store in ambush-style attack

NYPD Officer Neutralizes Armed Career Criminal in Ambush Shooting Outside NYC Store

A New York City police officer discharged his weapon at a known…
Rob and Michele Singer Reiner deaths: Son Jake speaks out about deaths of his parents for first time

Jake Reiner Breaks Silence on the Heartbreaking Loss of Parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner

LOS ANGELES — Jake Reiner, the eldest child of acclaimed filmmaker Rob…
Once-charming mountain escape now battling homelessness homeowners say turned postcard city into no-go zone

Charming Mountain Retreat Faces Crisis: Homeowners Concerned as Homelessness Transforms Scenic City

Asheville, North Carolina, has long been celebrated as a picturesque mountain retreat,…
Chicago police look for suspects in shooting that injured ex-Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard's dad on Kedzie Avenue in North Lawndale

Manhunt Launched: Chicago Police Seek Suspects in Shooting of Ex-Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s Father on Kedzie Avenue

CHICAGO — Authorities in Chicago are searching for three individuals involved in…
Trump pledges to clean up 'filthy' Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and turn it 'American-flag blue'

Trump Vows to Transform Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Patriotic Makeover: ‘American-Flag Blue’ Vision

In a bold initiative ahead of the nation’s 250th Independence Day celebration,…
'Thank God': Israeli PM Netanyahu Shares for the First Time That He Had Treatment for Cancer

Israeli PM Netanyahu Reveals Cancer Treatment Journey: “Thank God

On Friday, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that his latest medical report…
Man charged after allegedly kicking at airline staff, biting passenger on Australian-bound flight

Man Faces Charges for Alleged Assault on Australian-Bound Flight, Involving Airline Staff and Fellow Passenger

A 45-year-old man from Queanbeyan faces charges following an incident on a…
Iran has 'open window' to negotiate, but 'clock is not on their side,' Pete Hegseth says

Pete Hegseth: Iran Faces Time-Sensitive Opportunity for Diplomatic Negotiations

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently addressed the potential for negotiations with…