Three people are dead after a shooting at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, local police have confirmed.
On Thursday night, a gunman opened fire at the Grand 16 Theater in Lafayette. There were 100 people watching the 7 p.m. session of the new Amy Schumer movie Trainwreck at the time of the shooting.
Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft told local media three people are deceased, including the shooter, and at least nine people have been injured. Police said the shooter was 59-year-old John Russell Houser, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was described by Craft as a "drifter" who has arrived in the city earlier in the month
The two people killed were identified as 21-year-old Macy Breaux, who died in the movie theater and 33-year-old Jillian Johnson who died at an area hospital.
Craft said the gunman had a criminal record and they are currently doing a background check. "Why would a guy come into a movie theater and randomly start shooting people? Now he is deceased, we may never know," Craft told the media.
BREAKING: Grand 16 on Jonhston completely blocked off. Lafayette Police is here and many are heavily armed. pic.twitter.com/FZjWXjs9M8— Alex Labat (@Alex_Labat) July 24, 2015
BREAKING: Multiple people transported via stretcher at the Grand on Johnston Street. Bystanders count at least 7. pic.twitter.com/TJ8T9ASU8W— Alex Labat (@Alex_Labat) July 24, 2015
Police told local TV network KATC the gunman "fired randomly" at people inside the packed movie theater.
Witness Katie Domingue, who was in the movie theater at the time, told The Advertiser that about 20 minutes into the film she heard a loud noise, and then saw a man standing and shooting in a different direction to where she was seated. "He wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either," she told the publication.
Governor Bobby Jindal told local media that a teacher, who is among the injured, was shot in the leg after she jumped in front of someone to protect them and pulled the fire alarm. He praised her with saving multiple lives. "The teacher took a bullet that could have hit the second teacher in the head ... despite being injured the teacher was able to pull the fire alarm and save other people's lives," Jindal said.
Late Thursday night, a GoFundMe page dedicated to the two injured teachers was posted by a local educator's group.
.@BobbyJindal: Teacher jumped in front on bullet to save lives. Another pulled fire alarm to help alert people #lafayette— Casey Ardoin (@Casey_Ardoin) July 24, 2015
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word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">there was just a shooting at The Grand 16 , this world is SICK. praying for those 4 women .
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Following the incident, Schumer tweeted that her thoughts and prayers were with those affected.
My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015
Jindal also tweeted his thoughts on the tragedy as he made his way to Lafayette.
I'm on my way to Lafayette right now. Please say a prayer for the victims at Grand Theatre and their families.— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) July 24, 2015
Later in the evening, police forced back media members from the theater as they found a "suspicious device" in what they believe was the shooter's car. A K-9 hit on three spots of the car and the bomb squad was called to the scene to attend to the situation. Authorities said they were waiting until the car is cleared before proceeding with the investigation.
The delay means the bodies of the shooter and at least one of the deceased victims were still in the theater, according to Col. Michael D. Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police.
Police later said they were also checking out suspicious packages inside the movie theater. Sgt. Brooks David of the Louisiana State Police said a dog alerted to a backpack and other small items in the theater.
Police: Bomb squad on scene after authorities find “suspicious package” in what they believe to be Lafayette shooter's vehicle.— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) July 24, 2015
Lafayette police: Bomb squad robot will smash windows, open trunk. Will sound like a muffled shotgun blast— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) July 24, 2015
The shooting comes just seven days after James Holmes was convicted of murdering 12 people and injuring 70 at a midnight screening of the The Dark Knight Rises in 2012 in Aurora, Colorado. On July 17, Holmes was found guilty on all 165 counts, including 24 first-degree murder counts, at a court in Colorado.