Two men have landed themselves in trouble after they were seen posing with large amounts of cash and what appeared to be a handgun during a photo-op with Santa at the Mall of Louisiana, WAFB reported.
The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) on Friday said one of the men has since been arrested on an outstanding warrant from Texas. After the controversial photo made its way across social media, people raised issues with the mall’s security and wondered how such a thing was allowed to happen.
“How in the world would you allow something like this to even take place in the middle of your mall,” a person who shared the photo on the mall’s Facebook page questioned.
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Responding to the incident, the mall’s Senior General Manager, Gene Satern, said officials at the establishment were aware of the photo but couldn’t comment any further on it. “The incident is currently under investigation with BRPD and I’m not allowed to release any information while under an active investigation,” Satern said.
For several years, the mall has displayed stickers at its entrances to make people aware guns are allowed inside the establishment. The Baton Rouge police said the suspect arrested on the outstanding warrant is being detained at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison pending his extradition to Texas.
He is facing aggravated assault and parole violation charges.
