Six people, including a child, were shot during Clinton, Louisiana's 'Mardi Gras in the Country' parade, forcing officials to stop the event. One person is in custody while investigators search for a vehicle believed to be linked to the shooting. Louisiana State Police have taken over the investigation and blocked streets around the courthouse. The incident adds to at least 24 mass shootings recorded this year by the Gun Violence Archive and has renewed calls for stronger federal gun-violence measures.
Six People, Including a Child, Wounded in Shooting at Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade
One person is reportedly in custody as investigators are searching for a vehicle suspected to have been used for the shooting.Photograph: Hilary Scheinuk/AP(Photograph: Hilary Scheinuk/AP)
Six people, including a child, were shot during the 'Mardi Gras in the Country' parade in Clinton, Louisiana, on Saturday, local media and law enforcement said.
Where it happened: The shooting occurred near the East Feliciana Parish courthouse, prompting parade organizers and officials to immediately halt the event.
Investigation and arrests: Authorities confirmed one person is in custody. Investigators are searching for a vehicle they believe may have been involved. The Louisiana State Police have taken the lead on the probe, and state troopers, alongside sheriff's personnel, blocked streets around the courthouse during the investigation. The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from national outlets.
Community context: Clinton is a small town of roughly 1,300 residents within the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. The shooting occurred during a well-attended community celebration and has shaken local residents.
Bigger picture: At the time of the incident, the Gun Violence Archive had recorded at least 24 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. The nonpartisan archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are wounded or killed. High and recurring rates of mass shootings have renewed calls for federal lawmakers to consider more comprehensive gun-violence measures, though Congress has not enacted the major reforms many advocates seek.
Authorities continue their investigation and have asked anyone with information or footage of the shooting to come forward.
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