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Louisiana shooting: Lafayette cinema killer 'tried to flee' Louisiana cinema shooting: Lafayette gunman 'had violent past'
(about 1 hour later)
Police have identified the gunman who killed two women and injured nine others before shooting himself inside a Louisiana cinema. The gunman who killed two people and injured several others at a Louisiana cinema had a history of mental health issues, according to court documents.
Officials described John Russell Houser, 59, as a "drifter" from Alabama who had been staying at nearby motel. John Houser, 59, fired a dozen rounds from a handgun at a film screening in Lafayette before shooting himself.
Witnesses said Houser fired 13 rounds with a handgun during a Thursday night screening of Trainwreck in Lafayette. Documents seen by the AP news agency show his family won a protective order against him in 2008 due to "various acts of violence" towards them.
Hours earlier, US President Barack Obama told the BBC that gun law reform had been his "greatest frustration". His wife, who filed for divorce in March, said he had become "volatile".
Police chief Jim Craft said investigators believe Houser intended to flee rather than take his own life, but the quick police response forced him back into the building. Hours before the latest US shooting, President Barack Obama told the BBC that gun law reform had been his "greatest frustration".
Mr Craft said Houser's car was parked outside one of the cinema's exits. Investigators found wigs and other disguises inside his motel room. Lafayette police described Houser as a "drifter" from Alabama who had been staying at nearby motel since the beginning of July. Wigs and other disguises were found inside his room.
Authorities said Houser's motive is still unclear, but it appeared he acted alone and did not know the victims. He did have a criminal history but it was "pretty old", Mr Craft added. Police chief Jim Craft said investigators believe he intended to flee rather than take his own life, but the quick police response forced him back into the building.
The victims were identified as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux and 31-year-old Jillian Johnson. 'Danger to himself'
His motive is unclear but police said they were looking into online posts appearing to have been made by Houser in which he criticised the government and US media.
He did have a criminal history but it was "pretty old", Mr Craft added. It is unclear how he obtained his gun.
Court documents from 2008 say Houser's family petitioned a court to have him involuntarily committed "because he was a danger to himself and others".
The files said Houser's wife, Kellie Maddox Houser, had removed all guns from their marital residence after he "exhibited extreme erratic behaviour" and made "disturbing statements".
The judge issued the order and Houser was taken to a hospital in Columbus, Georgia. It is unclear how long he stayed at the institute.
Witnesses said Houser opened fire on cinema-goers about 20 minutes into advertisements before a screening of Trainwreck at the Grand Theatre.
The victims were identified by police as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux and 31-year-old Jillian Johnson.
Colleagues at a clothing store in Lafayette where Ms Breaux worked said: "Nothing ever prepares you for a loss... Much less the loss of such an amazing young woman."Colleagues at a clothing store in Lafayette where Ms Breaux worked said: "Nothing ever prepares you for a loss... Much less the loss of such an amazing young woman."
Ms Johnson's husband described her as a "once-in-a-lifetime gal" on the Facebook page of the gift shop they ran in the city.Ms Johnson's husband described her as a "once-in-a-lifetime gal" on the Facebook page of the gift shop they ran in the city.
Nine people were taken to a local hospital with injuries ranging from critical to non-life-threatening. One person remains in critical condition.Nine people were taken to a local hospital with injuries ranging from critical to non-life-threatening. One person remains in critical condition.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene of the shooting in Lafayette, a city of about 120,000 people.
About 100 people are thought to have been in the building at the time of the shooting.About 100 people are thought to have been in the building at the time of the shooting.
One witness said she heard a loud bang like a firecracker about 20 minutes into advertisements before the film and saw a man standing up and shooting.One witness said she heard a loud bang like a firecracker about 20 minutes into advertisements before the film and saw a man standing up and shooting.
"He wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either," Katie Domingue told local newspaper The Advertiser."He wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either," Katie Domingue told local newspaper The Advertiser.
Heroic actsHeroic acts
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who arrived at the scene late on Thursday night, said there had been several acts of heroism during the attack. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who arrived at the scene late on Thursday night, praised the "selfless heroism" of two wounded teachers.
He told reporters that a teacher who was in the theatre jumped in front of a second teacher, taking a bullet for her. He told reporters that the first teacher threw herself in front of the second to shield her from the bullets.
"Her friend literally jumped over her and, by her account, actually saved her life," Mr Jindal said. The second, who was shot in the leg, had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to warn others of the danger, Mr Jindal said.
He said the second teacher then managed to pull sound a fire alarm to alert other cinema-goers. Mr Jindal, who is also vying for the Republican presidential nomination, said it was not the right time to discuss gun control and that the focus should remain on the victims.
"We will get through this. We are a resilient community," Mr Jindal added. "We will get through this. We are a resilient community," Mr Jindal said.
"This is an awful night for Lafayette. This is an awful night for Louisiana. This is an awful night for the United States."
US comedian and actress Amy Schumer, who stars in Trainwreck, tweeted: "My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana."US comedian and actress Amy Schumer, who stars in Trainwreck, tweeted: "My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana."
The shooting comes as a jury deliberates the death penalty for a gunman who attacked a cinema in Colorado three years ago.
James Holmes, 27, killed 12 people and wounding 70 others in July 2012 at a screening of a Batman film near Denver.