Gunman opens fire in Lafayette, La. theater: 3 dead, 9 injured

Melanie Eversley | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption 3 are dead, 9 injured in Louisiana theater shooting Investigators say a 59-year-old man opened fire at the Grand Theater in Lafayette, Louisiana during a showing of 'Trainwreck.' Three people are dead, including the gunman. Nine people are hospitalized with a range of injuries.

A man opened fire with a handgun Thursday night at a movie theater in Lafayette, La., killing two people and injuring at least nine others before killing himself, authorities said.

Sgt. Brooks David of the Louisiana State Police described the alleged shooter in the incident at the Grand Theatre as a white male, about 58, who entered the theater by himself. Authorities know the identity of the man but are not yet releasing it, David said. About 100 people were inside of the theater at the time, authorities said.

The victims range in age from their late teens to their 60s, Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft said.

The man did have a criminal record but it was "pretty old," according to Craft.

After the man opened fire, he tried to leave with the people fleeing the theater, Craft said. But investigators believe that he spotted two officers in the parking lot, then turned around and went back into the theater. He then fired a single shot, and officers found him dead inside.

"We don't know if this was just a random act or whether it was a domestic situation," Craft said.

Early Friday, Craft said what was believed to be the vehicle of the alleged shooter had been found and a suspicious package was inside. The Louisiana State Police Bomb Squad was investigating, Craft said. The area has been evacuated.

A backpack and other items were inside the vehicle, said Col. Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police superintendent.

Another Grand Theatre in the city was closed and additional police were deployed to other theaters as a precautionary measure, Craft said. In addition to representatives from the state police and local police department, representatives for the FBI and the district attorney were on site, Craft said.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal spoke emotionally from the scene, hailing the first responders.

"I want to praise the law enforcers who ran toward danger," Jindal said. "This is a time for us to come together. What we can do now is pray. We can hug these families, shower them with love, thoughts and prayers.

"This is an awful night for Lafayette, an awful night for Louisiana, an awful night for the United States," a somber Jindal said.

President Obama, who arrives in Kenya Friday, was briefed on the shooting aboard Air Force One.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the White House, including the President and First Lady, are with the community of Lafayette," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

Witness Katie Domingue of Carencro, La., told The Advertiser that she was at the theater with her fiance for the 7 p.m. showing of Trainwreck when, about 20 minutes into the movie, she heard a loud noise. She looked up and saw "an older white man" shooting, but not in her direction, she said.

"He wasn't saying anything," she said. "I didn't hear anybody screaming either."

Domingue said she heard about six shots in all before running with her fiance to the nearest exit, leaving behind her shoes and purse.

Other witnesses described a crazed and chaotic scene.

Nick Judice of the family-owned Judice Inn restaurant across the street from the theater, said there was a full dinner crowd when the shooting took place.

"All of a sudden,people looking out the windows saw people running out of the theater" and ambulances racing up, Judice said. "It's pretty crazy."

Rebecca Vickers, an employee at the Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant about 50 yards from the scene, said two of her workers who had just finished their shifts were about to enter the Grand Theatre when "cops pulled up and shouted, 'Don't go into the theater!' "

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, a Republican who is from Lafayette, said late Thursday that he and his wife were saddened by the incident in his hometown.

"Bridget and I are praying for the families and friends of the victims at this difficult time," Boustany said in a statement. "I will work with the Lafayette Police Department, local, state and federal officials to get to the bottom of what happened tonight."