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Louisiana shooting: John Houser named by police as movie theater gunman Lafayette shooting: police investigating gunman's background and 'writings'
(about 3 hours later)
Lafayette police on Friday identified the gunman in the Louisiana movie theater shooting as John Russel Houser. On Thursday night, Lafayette, Louisiana, found itself at the center of a tragedy. The city whose residents have ranked it the happiest in America became the latest US community to be scarred by a mass shooting.
Related: Lafayette shooting: three dead including lone gunman and nine injured On Friday, police were working to determine why John Russel Houser fired at least 13 rounds in a Lafayette movie theater, killing two women before turning his handgun on himself. Nine people were injured, one critically. By Friday morning, two had been released from hospital.
Houser, 59, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was described by police as a “drifter”. Related: Lafayette shooting victims were a bright student and an artistic entrepeneur
Two women died in the shooting – 21-year-old Mayci Breaux and 33-year-old Jillian Johnson. Nine people were injured. Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, died in the shooting.
Two teachers were hailed as heroes after one of them threw herself in front of the gunman and the other managed to raise the alarm. Houser, 59, was described by police as a “drifter”.
Louisiana’s governor, Bobby Jindal, told a press conference on Thursday night he had talked to the teachers. “We believe in talking to the family, talking to the friends, trying to look at his writings on the internet and putting some parts and pieces together and maybe we can figure out what caused him to do it,” said Louisiana state police colonel Mike Edmonson.
“Even though she was shot in the leg, she had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to help save other lives,” he said. Driving down Johnston Street in Lafayette, the Grand Theatre’s large blue and yellow sign could be seen from a distance, above the tree-lined roads of the city. Movie times scrolled on the board, but no movies were being shown. On Friday, it was a crime scene.
On Friday, Lafayette’s police chief, Jim Craft, said a quick response by police officers prevented further deaths. The theater parking lot was filled with dozens of media trucks and law enforcement officers. Traces of Thursday night’s tragedy could be seen throughout the city. An electronic sign at a branch of Walgreens flashed: “Please keep the families & victims in your prayers. Stay strong Lafayette.”
“It is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping,” said Craft. Police provided updates to reporters waiting in the sweltering southern heat. Lafayette’s police chief, Jim Craft, said a quick response by police officers prevented further deaths.
Craft said that when Houser saw police outside, he went back in to the Grand Theatre and the final gunshot was heard. “It is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping,” said Craft, adding that when Houser saw police outside, he went back into the Grand Theatre and the final gunshot was heard.
Police said Houser had purchased a ticket for the Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck and went in to watch it before opening fire about 20 minutes into the movie, around 7.30pm. Investigators will be reviewing the Grand Theatre’s video security system. Police found an additional magazine at the scene and said Houser’s car was parked outside with the keys sitting on a tire. There is no indication he had any accomplices.
Police said Houser had purchased a ticket for the Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck and went in to watch it before opening fire about 20 minutes into the movie, around 7.30pm. Investigators were reviewing the Grand Theatre’s video security system.
“He walked in just like any patron, purchased the ticket to watch the movie,” said Craft at a second Friday press conference. “It didn’t set off any alarms for anybody, he wasn’t acting different from any other person.”
One witness told the Louisiana Advertiser: “We heard a loud pop we thought was a firecracker.”One witness told the Louisiana Advertiser: “We heard a loud pop we thought was a firecracker.”
The witness said she saw “an older white man” standing up and shooting down into the theatre, but not in her direction. “He wasn’t saying anything,” the witness said. “I didn’t hear anybody screaming either.”The witness said she saw “an older white man” standing up and shooting down into the theatre, but not in her direction. “He wasn’t saying anything,” the witness said. “I didn’t hear anybody screaming either.”
Two teachers were hailed as heroes after one threw herself in front of the gunman and the other managed to raise the alarm. Police said movie theater employees also set off alarms.
Louisiana’s governor, Bobby Jindal, told a press conference on Thursday night he had talked to the teachers. “Even though she was shot in the leg, she had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to help save other lives,” he said.
Bomb squad officers detonated a suspicious package in the gunman’s car and a backpack inside the cinema. Both turned out to be harmless.Bomb squad officers detonated a suspicious package in the gunman’s car and a backpack inside the cinema. Both turned out to be harmless.
Police said Houser, who was from Alabama, had been in Lafayette since early July and was living at a local motel. Police said they found wigs, glasses and other disguises in his room. Police said Houser, who was from Phenix City, Alabama, had been in Lafayette since early July and was living at a local motel. Police said they found wigs, glasses and other disguises in his room.
Nine victims were hospitalized after the shooting. By Friday morning, two had been released. One person remained in critical condition. Police said at least 13 rounds were fired and one .40 caliber weapon was involved. Police said at least 13 rounds were fired and one .40 caliber weapon was involved. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was conducting an “urgent trace” on the weapon – which meant they should have information on where it came from by early Friday evening.
Craft provided an early portrait of Houser, though he said: “At this point, we have very little information about him.” He added that the FBI was helping local and state police investigate Houser’s background. Craft provided an early portrait of Houser, though he said: “At this point, we have very little information about him.” He added that the FBI was helping local and state police investigate Houser’s background, but said Houser’s criminal past was “very, very aged” and police had not found “arrests or anything” in 10 or 15 years.
Craft said Houser’s criminal past was “very, very aged” and police had not found “arrests or anything” in 10 or 15 years. “I think he had an arson and maybe had a misdemeanor selling alcohol to a minor,” Houser said. “I think he had an arson and maybe had a misdemeanor selling alcohol to a minor,” Craft said.
Police said Houser seemed to have been estranged from his family. “I think he was married at one time, but he’s not presently married as far as I know,” Craft said. Police said Houser seemed to have been estranged from his family. “I think he was married at one time, but he’s not presently married as far as I know,” Craft said. The only connection they had found between Craft and Lafayette so far was that he had an uncle who lived there – but he had been dead for 35 years.
Related: Two teachers in Louisiana movie theater shooting hailed as heroesRelated: Two teachers in Louisiana movie theater shooting hailed as heroes
Police said the only connection they had found between Craft and Lafayette so far was that he had an uncle who lived there – but he had been dead for 35 years. Edmonson, of the Louisiana state police, said that by Friday morning at least 100 people had been interviewed.
Colonel Mike Edmonson, of the Louisiana state police, said that by Friday morning at least 100 people had been interviewed.
“Putting a motive to it is something we simply can’t do right now,” he said.“Putting a motive to it is something we simply can’t do right now,” he said.
Jindal, a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, said the owner of the Grand Theatre had created a benefit fund for the families of the victims. Louisiana state representative Terry Landry, a former head of state police, said the shooting indicated a need for more restrictive gun laws. “It is our job as legislators to close the loopholes in these gun laws,” Landry said.
Speaking to CNN on Friday, Jindal said: “This was an awful, awful night – for Lafayette, for Louisiana, for our entire country.” Jindal, a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, avoided commenting on gun restrictions. He said the owner of the Grand Theatre had created a benefit fund for the families of the victims.
Speaking to CNN, Jindal said: “This was an awful, awful night – for Lafayette, for Louisiana, for our entire country.”