Parents of Lafayette Teen Martha Odom Killed in Baton Rouge Sue Mall Security

BATON ROUGE, La. - Lafayette Parish's Martha Odom was just 17 years old when she was killed in the shooting at the Baton Rouge mall on April 23, 2026. Odom was a senior at Ascension Episcopal School in Youngsville and was at the Mall of Louisiana with several classmates when gunfire erupted in the food court.

Now, the parents of Lafayette-area teenager Martha Odom have filed a lawsuit following the April shooting at the Mall of Louisiana that claimed their daughter's life.

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Martha Odom Was Killed During April Mall Shooting

Authorities said the shooting happened after a confrontation between groups. Odom was struck in the chest and died from her injuries.

Two other Ascension Episcopal students, Rorie Williamson and Afif Lakhani, were also shot. Two additional students, Luke Harris and Shelby Godwin, were not physically shot but say they experienced severe emotional distress during the incident.

READ MORE: Louisiana High School Student Arrested Over Snapchat Threat

Six people were shot in total, including Odom.

Odom's death shocked the Lafayette and Acadiana communities. She was only weeks away from graduating.

Submitted Photo

What Does The Lawsuit Claim?

The lawsuit was filed October 7 in East Baton Rouge Parish's 19th Judicial District Court. According to the lawsuit, the family believes more could have been done to protect shoppers inside the mall.

Odom's parents, Michael and Brooke Odom, are seeking damages in a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit.

READ MORE: Family of Slain Acadiana Teen Martha Odom Establishes Legacy Fund

The lawsuit names Mall of Louisiana LLC, Brookfield Properties Retail Inc., Marksman Security LLC and Markel Lee, the person accused of opening fire during the April shooting.

According to KLFY, the lawsuit alleges -

The mall 'was the site of incidents of significant violent crime and security disturbances at and around the property, including in the area of the food court, of which the defendants knew or should have known was an area of heightened risk to the public,' and that the mall 'failed to take reasonable care to secure the safety of its premises for invitees.

The lawsuit also alleges that security failed to effectively enforce the mall's ban against firearms.

It's important to point out that these are allegations contained in a lawsuit and have not been established as facts by a court.

The Accused Shooter Is Also Named In The Lawsuit

Markel Lee, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, is also named as a defendant.

Lee has been charged as an adult in connection with the shooting. He faces one count of second-degree murder, six counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of illegal use of a weapon during a crime of violence, according to the latest reporting. He has pleaded not guilty.

Although the newly filed lawsuit does not list a dollar amount for damages, Odom's family is seeking compensation for losses including funeral expenses, loss of companionship and grief, as well as damages related to the suffering Odom allegedly experienced before her death.

The other plaintiffs are seeking damages related to their physical injuries and/or emotional trauma from the shooting.

For now, those claims remain allegations, and the defendants will have an opportunity to respond in court.

Read more at KLFY.com.