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| Lafayette shooting victims Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson mourned by shocked friends | Lafayette shooting victims Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson mourned by shocked friends |
| (6 months later) | |
| The friends of two cinema-goers shot dead in Louisiana have said they are powerless to understand why they died, as police continue to try and search for the killer’s motive. | The friends of two cinema-goers shot dead in Louisiana have said they are powerless to understand why they died, as police continue to try and search for the killer’s motive. |
| Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, were 20 minutes into watching Trainwreck in Lafayette when a gunman opened fire. | Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, were 20 minutes into watching Trainwreck in Lafayette when a gunman opened fire. |
| John Russel Houser fired into the audience at The Grand 16 Theatre in Lafayette 13 times on Thursday night, killing the pair and injuring seven more people. | |
| Police said he planned to escape with the crowds and make a getaway in his car but shot himself dead after being cornered by officers. | Police said he planned to escape with the crowds and make a getaway in his car but shot himself dead after being cornered by officers. |
| Colonel Mike Edmonson, from Louisiana State Police, said he had taken “two beautiful lives”. | Colonel Mike Edmonson, from Louisiana State Police, said he had taken “two beautiful lives”. |
| “These two individuals had a vision, had a name, had a future and it wasn't to die as they did horribly in this theatre,” he told a news conference outside the cordoned-off cinema today. | “These two individuals had a vision, had a name, had a future and it wasn't to die as they did horribly in this theatre,” he told a news conference outside the cordoned-off cinema today. |
| Officers said they have not yet established a motive for the attack but described Houser, 59, as a “drifter” with a history of minor criminal offences. | Officers said they have not yet established a motive for the attack but described Houser, 59, as a “drifter” with a history of minor criminal offences. |
| It was unclear whether he meant to target the women or if he was aiming for any individuals or groups in the hundred-strong audience. | It was unclear whether he meant to target the women or if he was aiming for any individuals or groups in the hundred-strong audience. |
| Tributes have been pouring out on Twitter for Ms Breaux and Ms Johnson. | Tributes have been pouring out on Twitter for Ms Breaux and Ms Johnson. |
| “RIP Mayci. You’re never forgotten,” one friend wrote, while another shared photos of her on a school cheerleading squad. | “RIP Mayci. You’re never forgotten,” one friend wrote, while another shared photos of her on a school cheerleading squad. |
| People writing on Twitter called her an “innocent person”, a “wonderful angel” and “one of the funniest people”. | People writing on Twitter called her an “innocent person”, a “wonderful angel” and “one of the funniest people”. |
| Ms Breaux was believed to be with her boyfriend at the time. He was also shot but survived, according to a woman claiming to be his cousin on social media. | Ms Breaux was believed to be with her boyfriend at the time. He was also shot but survived, according to a woman claiming to be his cousin on social media. |
| Emotional tributes were also pouring in for Ms Johnson, who lived in Lafayette with her husband. | Emotional tributes were also pouring in for Ms Johnson, who lived in Lafayette with her husband. |
| Local media reported that she was the owner and founder of a boutique called Red Arrow and Parish Ink, a clothes chain, after spending several years as the lead singer of an all-female band called the Figs. | Local media reported that she was the owner and founder of a boutique called Red Arrow and Parish Ink, a clothes chain, after spending several years as the lead singer of an all-female band called the Figs. |
| One friend wrote on Facebook: “Jillian, you will be missed. I'm so sorry that this happened to you, you were so young and had a full life to live, you did not deserve this.” | One friend wrote on Facebook: “Jillian, you will be missed. I'm so sorry that this happened to you, you were so young and had a full life to live, you did not deserve this.” |
| Others called her a “sweetheart” and a talented, creative person who had dedicated herself to “making Lafayette a better, more beautiful, more interesting place”. | Others called her a “sweetheart” and a talented, creative person who had dedicated herself to “making Lafayette a better, more beautiful, more interesting place”. |
| "I can't begin to understand," a friend wrote. "Your light and talent was extinguished way too soon." | "I can't begin to understand," a friend wrote. "Your light and talent was extinguished way too soon." |
| Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal described it as an “awful, awful night” for Louisiana and the US but praised the heroism of a teacher who saved her friend’s life by shielding her from a bullet. | Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal described it as an “awful, awful night” for Louisiana and the US but praised the heroism of a teacher who saved her friend’s life by shielding her from a bullet. |
| One witness said she thought the noise of gunshots were firecrackers when they first went off. | One witness said she thought the noise of gunshots were firecrackers when they first went off. |
| “We heard a loud pop we thought was a firecracker,” Katie Domingue told the Louisiana Advertiser. | “We heard a loud pop we thought was a firecracker,” Katie Domingue told the Louisiana Advertiser. |
| She said she saw “an older white man” standing up and shooting down into the cinema, but not in her direction. | She said she saw “an older white man” standing up and shooting down into the cinema, but not in her direction. |
| “He wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either,” she added. | “He wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either,” she added. |
| The Grand 16 theatre remains closed and the owners have started a charitable fund to raise money for victims and their families. | The Grand 16 theatre remains closed and the owners have started a charitable fund to raise money for victims and their families. |