Louisiana Theater Shooter Kills Himself: 2 Dead and 9 Wounded

Twenty minutes into the 5:10 p.m. screening of Trainwreck in a Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater and in broad daylight, an “older white man” shot the two people sitting in front of him and wounded nine others. As the murderer tried to escape the theater with the flood of people, police blocked his exit. He then turned to run against the crowd and a single gunshot was heard. When police reached him, they found him dead on the floor of the Grand Theater 16 in Louisiana, an MSNBC report revealed.

Louisiana State Police Col. Michael Edmonson told reporters they located the vehicle the killer parked next to the theater and identified “suspicious items,” warranting a call to the bomb squad to check the vehicle. Edmonson also stated “We don’t believe there’s anybody else involved.”

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, according to KTLA, related information concerning the brave actions of the Louisiana State Police Department that night, stating, “They literally were running into and toward the theater as they heard those shots fired.” Jindal shared they had done “an incredible job.” Louisiana Gov. Jindal also held a press conference where he gave his heartfelt sentiments in regard to the Louisiana theater shooting.

“This was an awful night for Lafayette, this was an awful night for Louisiana, this was an awful night for the United States. But we will get through this.”

The Louisiana governor sent out a 6:45 p.m. tweet earlier in the day, asking for “prayer for the victims at Grand Theater and their families,” as he was on his way to Lafayette.

Only limited information is available concerning the victims of the Louisiana theater shooting at this time. What is known is that the two who have died from their injuries so far are 33-year-old Jillian Johnson and 21-year-old Mayci Breaux, according to the Wall Street Journal. CNN reports of the two Louisiana victims, “One co-owned a gift and toy shop. Another was a college student who also worked at a women’s clothing store” in Louisiana. Nine are wounded with ages ranging from teens to seniors, according to Clay Henry of Acadian Ambulance in Louisiana, who spoke with the Boston Herald. Of the victims wounded in the Louisiana shooting, some face injuries that have placed them in critical care. It was reported that one victim was undergoing surgery at a Louisiana hospital at the time this report was written, and two had been released from Louisiana hospitals.

Louisiana Governor Jindal praised two teachers who were at the Louisiana theater for their heroism during the shooting. One teacher attempted to save the life of another as she dove to push her out of the way. Both Louisiana teachers were wounded, and though the teacher whose life was saved had been shot in the leg, she managed to pull the fire alarm so as to save other lives.

Louisiana authorities have not yet released a motive for the murder of the victims in the Louisiana Grand Theater 16. It has been reported by the Wall Street Journal that the now deceased killer, John Houser, has a long criminal history of violence. Originally from Alabama, he came to Lafayette, Louisiana, a few weeks ago in early July. A search of his hotel room in Lafayette, Louisiana, by authorities revealed he had acquired various disguises, including wigs and glasses. The bomb squad was noted to have taken a package out of the hotel room. Louisiana State Police insist that the murderer has not directly targeted any other establishments in Louisiana.

Louisiana Gov. Jindal gave a call to action.

“What we can do now is we can pray… We can hug these families. We can shower them with love, thoughts and prayers.”

According to CNN, the Louisiana Governor ordered “that flags at all state building be flown at half-staff until July 31 out of respect for the Lafayette theater shooting victims.”

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

[Photo by Jose Diaz-Balart / MSNBC]