Man Enters Plea In Christmas Eve Shooting At Louisiana Mall

GRETNA, La. (AP) — The Marrero man accused of gunning down another man in the Oakwood Mall on Christmas Eve has pleaded not guilty in state district court.

The New Orleans Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1NlFsNF ) 26-year-old Gary M. François, who was indicted by a Jefferson Parish grand jury Thursday on a charge of second-degree murder, entered his plea Friday.

François, who has been in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center since his arrest shortly after the shooting, is being held on $750,000 bond.

Authorities say surveillance footage shows François waiting among the last-minute Christmas shoppers outside of the Foot Locker in the mall as 24-year-old James Vaughn made a purchase at the counter.

When Vaughn was finished, François allegedly walked into the shoe store and shot him.

No motive has been given for the shooting.

Information from: The New Orleans Advocate, http://www.neworleansadvocate.com