Christmas Eve shooting kills 1 at Louisiana mall

GRETNA, La. (AP) -- A Christmas Eve shooting has left one person dead at a mall in suburban New Orleans, and police say a suspect is in custody.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says it happened about 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, less than two hours before the mall in Gretna was scheduled to close for the holiday.

Normand says the victim had just purchased something from Foot Locker and had turned from the cash register when a man walked to within three or four feet of him and began shooting.

The sheriff says at least three shots were fired. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

No one else was injured.

Normand says the shooter was apprehended several blocks from the mall and is being questioned by authorities. Charges have not yet been filed.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

A Christmas Eve shooting has left one person wounded at a mall in suburban New Orleans.

Few details were immediately available, but the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office says shots were fired at the Oakwood Center Mall in Gretna just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff's spokesman Col. John Fortunato says one person was injured.

News outlets report the shooting happened at or near the mall's food court.

Dozens of police are at the scene, including Louisiana State Police. Shoppers have been ushered out of the mall as the investigation continues.

Investigators are searching for at least one suspect.

Gretna is just southeast of New Orleans.