New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- A Mardi Gras celebration in rural Louisiana was abruptly halted on Saturday after gunfire erupted during a community parade, leaving six people injured, including a six-year-old child who remains in critical condition.

The shooting occurred shortly after the 21st annual Mardi Gras in the Country parade began in Clinton, a small town of roughly 1,300 residents located near Baton Rouge. The incident took place close to the local courthouse, prompting authorities to immediately shut down the event.

According to local reporting, at least five people were initially confirmed to have been shot, though later accounts indicated that six victims had sustained gunshot wounds during the violence.

Among the injured was a six-y...