One person has been killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a shopping centre in Louisiana, police have said.

The incident at the Mall of Louisiana, in Baton Rouge, appears to have occurred when two groups began shooting at each other after an argument in the food court, Baton Rouge Police said.

"Unfortunately there were some innocent people in the area who might have also caught some rounds," Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr said during a news conference.

Five people have been arrested in connection to the shooting, police said in the hours after the incident.

Earlier, police had said that ten people were taken to hospital and at least two required surgery. They later updated the figure to five people being hurt.