Victims, shooter identified in Lafayette movie theater shooting

LAFAYETTE — At approximately 7:30 pm on July 23, 2015 first responders from Louisiana State Police Troop I, the Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies responded to an active shooter incident at the Grand Theater on Johnston Street in the city of Lafayette. Initial reports indicated that a white male had opened fire in the theater wounding numerous patrons.
In less than a minute, the initial responding officers made entry into the theater and discovered the suspected shooter was deceased as well as at least one patron in the theater. Officers on scene quickly established a perimeter and began assisting the wounded and searching for additional threats. As the investigation continued, a vehicle belonging to the suspected shooter was identified and alerted positive for the presence of explosives by a K-9 unit. At that time, the perimeter was expanded and the Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit in addition to FBI bomb technicians utilized bomb robots and disrupting devices to clear the vehicle, the surrounding parking lot, and the interior of the building. During the extensive search of the vehicle and the theater, a nearby apartment building was evacuated out of an abundance of caution. No devices were discovered in the search.
Shortly after 2 a.m., the scene was declared safe and the crime scene was turned back over to investigators with the Lafayette Police Department.
At this time in the investigation the following is known about the suspected shooter and victims:
· The shooter has been identified as John Russell Houser (W/M age 59 of Phenix City, Alabama)
o Houser had been staying in a room at the Motel 6 on North University Avenue in Lafayette since the beginning of July 2015 with no ties to the Lafayette area
o A search warrant was conducted on Houser’s motel room with Crime Scene personnel currently processing the room for evidence
o Houser drove a blue Lincoln sedan to the Grand Theater later discovered parked in the parking lot with several suspicious items inside including several wigs and pairs of eyeglasses.
· The victims have been identified as
o Mayci Breaux (W/F age 21 of Franklin, LA) – deceased at the scene
o Jillian Johnson (W/F age 33 of Lafayette, LA) – succumbed to injuries at hospital
o Nine additional victims were hospitalized as a result of the shooting with only two being released at this time and one remaining in critical condition
The processing of the crime scene in the theater and the Motel 6 room remains ongoing at this time and is expected to last throughout the day.
Law enforcement is urging the public to contact the Lafayette Police Department at 337-291-8650 if they have any information related to Houser or the events surrounding the shooting.
Further information will be released as the investigation develops.