police identified the gunman as 59-year-old john russell houser. describing him as a kind of drifter w( no obvious motive. witnesses say he opened fire just after the lights dimmed for the movie. police say 13 rounds in all 3. 3-year-old jillian johnson was one of two victims killed. the other was 21-year-old mayci breaux. police are urging people to not forget these two women. >> here's a guy that was a drifter like the chief said that just happened to be in this theater and took two beautiful lives. don't lose sight of the fact that these two individuals had a vision, a name, a future. it wasn't to die as they did horr

investigators believe that john russell houser plan to escape. instead he ended his own life when police responded within minutes of the first 911 call. >> the quick response forced him back into the theater. at which time he shot himself. >> police say he's wishes license plate and left his car in the parking lot beside the emergency exit. they searched the vehicle and found no sign of a motive. >> these types of horrific attacks happened to often. how can you prepare? john gonzalez is in the abc seven news what you need to know to protect your self. johnm: it is mind-boggling how many times we have dealt with these tragedies. despite the ongoing gun control debate. the question is, are you doing anything to protect your family? the shooting comes a week after the shots rang out in chattanooga, tennessee, five weeks after the charleston attack and three years almost to the day after the movie theater shooting in colorado. we spoke with a national expert on the subject and a self-described survivor of two active shooter situation's. kuan while he

identified as john russell houser. described as a 59-year-old drifter who had been in lafayette for about a month. credits quick response by police and selfless actions by theater goers for perfect venting it from being worse. >> this was an awful night for lafayette,

you're seeing the man on your screen, john russel houser, 59 years old. here is what the ap learned by way of court documents. apparently the wife of john russel houser had asked for temporary protective order back in 2008 and the court documents go on to say, i'm going to quote here from the associated press who is quoting these documents that john houser exhibited extreme irrational behavior and made ominous disturbing statements. he lived in phoenix city alabama but traveled to the state of georgia, where the family lived to perpetuate various acts of family violence. also the documents saying he has a history of mental health issues. for example, manic depression and or bipolar disorder. according to the filing the wife in all of this, kelly maddox houser. according to these documents has quote, become so worried about the defendant's volatile mental state she removed all guns and weapons from their marital residence. these court documents going back to 2008. the protection order requested by the family was temporarily granted. that is where we leave

russel houser. the home's new owner said that houser destroyed rooms and hallways and poured cement into drains and threw dead fish all over the house. when they heard about thursday's deadly attack, they were not surprised houser was to blame. >> i betcha that he is crazy enough that that might be the shooter in louisiana. i said there is no way. i know he is crazy, but, i mean, he didn't do anything to these people over there. and i get chills saying that, because, you know, i was scared when he was over here and he almost blew my loved ones up. >> i just had that feeling. sometimes you get that feeling, you know? just something that i just had. >> in the meantime, cnn affiliate katc reports that five victims of the shooting are still in the hospital. one person is in critical condition. more than a hundred people last night, look at this, gathered at the university of louisiana-lafayette last night for a candlelight vigil to remember the two victims killed. a 21-year-old mayci breaux and jillian

. >> our short is john russell houser. he's kind of a drifter. he's been in lafayette as well as we can tell. he was staying in a motel. martha: what are we learning about this suspect. >> reporter: you heard the police chief refer to him as a drifter. he had multiple addresses. and he had a record including arson. he rented a room close to the theater. police collected evidence at that motel like wigs and disguises. there is no sense after motive. police say he bought a ticket for the screening. about 20 minutes into the screening he stood up and started firing. the gunman tried blending in with the crowd trying to escape before he saw law enforcement already on the scene. >> it was apparent he was intent on shooting and escaping. but the quick law enforcement response forced him back into the theater at which time he shot himself. >> reporter: investigators say they have quite an elaborate crime scene to process. more than 30 shell casings found in that theater and it could take several hours before that portion of the investigation is wrapped

police do not know the motive of the gunman. 59-year-old john russel houser. it happened in lafayette, louisiana, an hour west of baton rouge. omar villafranca is outside the grand 16 theater. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the 16-seat theater doesn't allow concealed weapons of any kind but last night, dozens of people came under fire during the 7:00 p.m. showing of the comedy film "trainwreck." a witness just a few feet from houser in the theater said he appeared to be shooting at moviegoers randomly. police in lafayette, louisiana, say it was 20 minutes into the film when john russel houser opened fire with a handgun. he was sitting by himself. >> we look over to the left and it's the shooter. he's just standing up just shooting at the whole crowd. >> luke at knepper was seated in the same row as houser. there were several empty seats between them. >> he's like six, seven seats down from us. he just looked like a common guy, anyone off the street. just good looking guy. just normal. and he's in his late 50s and white hair white facial hair. and sai

nine others hurt before he turned the gun on himself. >> our shooter is john russel houser. he is white, 59 years of age. >> reporter: police say houser was a drifter who was staying at a local motel. the investigators raided his room. >> we found wigs, and glasses, and disguises, basically, in his room of the his vehicle had a switched license tag, it is apparent he was in intent on shooting and then escaping. >> reporter: houser fired 13 shots in the theater. he tried leave as crowds ran out, but ran when he saw the police, the victims: investigators remained at the crime scene looking for clues and a motive. >> why would you come here and do something like that? and so, just like the victims, we're searching for answers, too. >> reporter: police are asking the public for help. >> police say houser was estranged from the family and had no significant run-ins with the law for more than a decade. jaspers spiers, the man accused of stabbing a metro passenger is in court. he is charged the murder of kevin sutherland, police say he stabbed him to death on july 4 on a train. he

grand 16 multiplex 59-year-old john russell houser was a troubled man living at a local motel. as jonathan martin reports he also had a deep hatred of the government. >> reporter: the picture emerging from john russell houser a drifter from alabama who left a trail of antigovernment writings online. >> he makes and about the government rants about different people around the world. >> police in lafayette louisiana said he opened fire about 20 minutes into the showing of train wreck killing 21-year-old mayci breaux and 35-year-old jillian johnson. nine others were injured. >> a couple of section later we heard four more we took on running we did not look back. >> as i get to the front i see a middle aged woman on the curb with blood coming out of her leg. >> police say houser only saw one way out. >> he intended to escape after he did the shooting. he had the car parked outside an exit door, an emergency exit door of the theater. so we think the early or immediate intervention by law enforcement prevented him from being able to leave the building so he reentered the theater and

a deranged gunman now identified as john russel houser. jillian johnson, 33 years old, a musician a boutique other than mayci breaux a college student. now authorities have the different task of trying to figure out why, why this drifter, with a history of antigovernment rantings. ryan what are police telling you? what's the latest? >> reporter: jake this community is still? shock. police back here are describing this as a crime scene. in fact we have seen investigators come in and out of the theater all day, as they try to fick out what happened here last night. police say this man, 59-year-old johns russel houser stood up in a crowded movie their and opened fire. >> i could have been shot. i didn't know where he could have been. there was blood everywhere. houser shot at least 13 rounds. witnesses say it was complete chaos. >> we just heard the alarm go off, and everybody was screaming to get out. people panicking everywhere. it was all panic. >> reporter: first responders race to the scene carrying out the wounded. this cell phone video

they say 59 years john russell houser was a drifter. julie in for "shepard smith reporting" will have more on that at the top of the hour. minute hotel? a priceline tonight only deal! stuck out on the range? nowhere to rest your beard? choose from thousands of hand-picked hotel deals at the very last minute. only on your phone. only from priceline. i brought in some protein to get us moving. i'm new ensure active high protein. i help you recharge with nutritious energy and strength. i'll take that. yeeeeeah! new ensure active high protein. 16 grams of protein and 23 vitamins and minerals. ensure. take life in. úr#b if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. isn't it time to let the real you shine through? introducing otezla apremilast. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. some people who took otezla saw 75% clearer skin after 4 months. ation has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't take otezla if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. otezla may increase the

they want to know what spurred 59-year-old john russell houser to open fire and then turn the gun on himself. marcy gonzalez has the story. >> tonight prayers in louisiana and flowers left outside the movie theater. inside is a horrific scene investigators are combing through trying to figure out what would trigger a man to suddenly stand 20 minutes into the movie "trainwreck" and then start shooting into the crowd. >> you realize this is real. this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. >> witnesses sharing heroic moments. strangers helping each other to safety. >> a woman pilled -- pulled me around. she got me out of there three or four seconds later. >> one woman taking a bullet for her teacher saving her life and then pulling the fire alarm. >> and then the two who couldn't be saved. 21-year-old student mayci-breaux and jill 11 johnson pictured on instagram. >> we need to bring closure to these families. >> the alleged gunman john russell houser when the responding officers caught him trying to escape. investigators are now looking into his past. the protective order filed by h

john russell houser fired 13 rounds from a handgun, killing two women and injuring at least nine other people and then police say he tried to escape and had his car waiting near the exit door and the offices arrived so quickly he turned the gun on himself instead. he don't know why he was in louisiana but was staying in a hotel the last few weeks. >> reporter: investigators are still at the scene of the movie theater shooting in louisiana a keep that could have been far worse were it not for the heroic efforts of two teachers. >> gun fire ripping through this louisiana movie thoughter last night. two killed and nine injured. dozens of owners running for their life. >> i saw a woman with blood all over their leg i grabbed my child and ran. they say that this money, john russell houser stands up during the showing of the comedy trainwreck pulled out a semi automatic handgun and then starts shooting. >> 28-year-old macy broet do iing at the scene and jillian johnson died at the hospital two of the injured were teachers one taking the bullet for the other both praised as heroes. >> the sec

the shooter has been identified at 59-year-old john russell houser. police called him a drifter originally from alabama. they don't believe he was in the area long. they also say they believe he was intent on escaping after opening fire. instead he took his own life after killing two young women in the theater. this tragedy brings once again the issue of gun violence to the front. let's bring in the host of cnn. we had other topics to talk to you about today. all things going on burks this has to take a front seat. everybody in lafayette is thinking this could be and bobby jindal said it this could be anywhere usa. is this going to change the conversation on gun violence in the united states? >> no maybe for a day or so. it's much like a presidential debate in that one side or the other will get a bump from the numbers and then it dissipates. it dissipates because people are so firmly entrenched either in the category of gun control or more rights or gun owners. even in the aftermath of newton nothing changed. there was data that suggested still those

they want to know what spurred 59-year-old john russell houser to open fire and then turn the gun on himself. marcy gonzalez has the story. >> tonight prayers in louisiana and flowers left outside the movie theater. inside is a horrific scene investigators are combing through trying to figure out what would trigger a man to suddenly stand 20 minutes into the movie "trainwreck" and then start shooting into the crowd. >> you realize this is real. this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. >> witnesses sharing heroic moments. strangers helping each other to safety. >> a woman pilled -- pulled me around. she got me out of there three or four seconds later. >> one woman taking a bullet for her teacher saving her life and then pulling the fire alarm. >> and then the two who couldn't be saved. 21-year-old student mayci-breaux and jill 11 johnson pictured on instagram. >> we need to bring closure to these families. >> the alleged gunman john russell houser when the responding officers caught him trying to escape. investigators are now looking into his past. the protective order filed by h

russell houser, was a drifter and a estrange from his family. >>> good afternoon i'm erika von tiehl. >>> i'm pat ciarrocchi. federal investigators are helping or hoping -- rather helping the powe louise san a police to help the man opened fire inside a movie theater last night. two people were killed before the gun man took his own life. correspondent omarvilleafranca shows us the early stage of the investigation. >> right now the fbi and bureau of alcohol tobacco and firearms are helping louisiana police find out more about the man who opened fire in the lafayette movie theater last night. two people were killed, nine others were hurt before he turn his gun on himself. >> our shooter is john russell houser, and he is a white male, 59 years of age. >> reporter: police say houser was a drift shore was staying at a local motel. the investigators raided his room overnight. >> we found, wigs, and glasses, and disguisees, basically in his room. his vehicle had a switch, license tag on it. it is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping. >> reporter: police say houser fire

this man, 59-year-old john russel houser shot and

they want to know what spurred 59-year-old john russell houser to open fire and then turn the gun on himself. marcy gonzalez has the story. >> tonight prayers in louisiana and flowers left outside the movie theater. inside is a horrific scene investigators are combing through trying to figure out what would trigger a man to suddenly stand 20 minutes into the movie "trainwreck" and then start shooting into the crowd. >> you realize this is real. this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. >> witnesses sharing heroic moments. strangers helping each other to safety. >> a woman pilled -- pulled me around. she got me out of there three or four seconds later. >> one woman taking a bullet for her teacher saving her life and then pulling the fire alarm. >> and then the two who couldn't be saved. 21-year-old student mayci-breaux and jill 11 johnson pictured on instagram. >> we need to bring closure to these families. >> the alleged gunman john russell houser when the responding officers caught him trying to escape. investigators are now looking into his past. the protective order filed by h

our shooter is john russell houser. he is a white male, 59 years of age. he previously resided in the state of alabama, he is kind of a drifter, he has been in lafayette since early july as far as we can tell. he was staying at a local motel on university avenue. we served a search warrant on that motel room at about 4:30 this morning. he was driving a 1995 blue lincoln continental. we found wigs and glasses and disguises basically in his room. his vehicle had a switched license tag on it. it was parked right outside an exit door of the theater. it is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping. what happen is, the quick law enforcement response forced him back into the theater. at which time he shot himself. no devices were found in his vehicle. no devices were found in the theater. as far as we know, one caliber handgun is involved, that weapon has been recovered. it appears that at least 13 rounds were fired during the time he was in the theater discharging the weapon. our victims are macy brough a white female, 21 years of age, she died o

police say the louisiana theater shooter, john russell houser took his own life. he had been treated for mental health problems in 2008 and 2009 in alabama. tonight fire crews continue to battle several wildfires in northern california. a fire in el dorado county has shut down highway 50 in both directions. kron 4's scott rates is live in kyburz tonight with the effort >> reporter: check with cal fire the tell me right now they have no estimated time when will reopen and you can see behind me close down right now to all traffic here's why to live video shot this 15 minutes ago agency the fire in their 300 a. they were attacking from the air in parts of fire and technical the ground still burning we know it's about 30 percent contained right now and then cut to this fire is going. "mandatory evacuation affect that's a cluster of homes about 25 1/3 homes close holes are situated on eastern boundary of the fire area fire crews able to hold the fire from getting outside their line that the belt and not all the lines are fully supported we come back here live with its

we're learning new details about john russell houser. the gunman in the shooting and the investigation covering a path of extreme radical behavior. this is him flying a flag after losing his liquor license. we know now that he legally bought the pistol use in the attack that he purchased at a pawnshop in alabama last year. ryan has more on the investigation. >> reporter: yeah right now the big thing that investigators are trying to figure out is what lead john russell houser here and what lead him to kill people that he had no connection to at all. people are going over every aspect. first was the motel. it was clear that he was going to have a get away. he even changed the license plate on his car. going back to his past there was a home in alabama that he was evicted from and when he left the home he trashed the place. the only thing that he left behind was a single white wedding dress that was hang nothing a closet. it was a disaster and even poured cement down the drains. the people that own it now say that it was an absolute mess. s

they just released a photo of 58-year-old john russell houser. investigators say he ises stranged from his wife and family and officers say they found no connection define houser and the city of lafayette, where the shooting happened. he shot himself as police moved in. 20 minutes into the movie "train wreck," houser began firing. a nurse threw herself over another and was shot. the other set off the fire alarm saving lives. >> the teacher is injured, pleading, on the grass, and we come to the realization that ambulance is not going to come. we pick her up and we begins coverting her 80 yards away. >> the conditions of the victims range from non-life threatening to critical. >> back at whom police say a shooting if vallejo appears to be a murder-suicide. it happened before 6:00 yesterday near hidden brock parkway. a man and woman in the home were killed and a third person found outside the home was shot and injured. the absoluter is among the bud -- dead but not identified. >> when person is under arrest in a suspected d.w.i. crash that claim add

this is the man. 59-year-old john russell houser. police describe him as a drifter and say he just came to lafayette earlier this month. he saw police and went back inside and shot himself to death. we'll have much more on this. first, you want to bring in randall man, he responded to the scene. also his 21-year-old daughter was inside the theater in the same row as the shooter. randall joins me on the phone. good morning, sir. >> good morning. >> first of all, how is your daughter daughter? >> she's doing okay. very traumatized. she made a comment that she was just thankful that the shooter did not pick one of the theaters that had a children's movie. i take that as a great first step and sign for her coping with this had. >> the theater next to where the shooting happened "minions" playing so there were lots of kids and they had to run out and their parents are having to have a hard conversation with all of them this morning. you responded to the scene. did you know your daughter was inside? >> yeah i learned about it from my daugh

the shooter, 59-year-old john russell houser took his own life. the two women killed have been identified as 33-year-old jillian johnson and 21-year-old mayci breaux. louisiana's governor bobby jindal praised the police and moviegoers of the theater for their bravery throughout this ordeal. listen. >> one of the surviving, wounded victims played dead to stay alive. what we've learned from inside is that it appears that the shooter actually took his time and was somewhat meth yolical as he shot folks from the top, from the back of the theater. it appears more and more that he was planning his escape. >> police say that the shooter posted many extremist views online and had been etraffic issed -- estranged from his family for many years. but just in the last month, his brother says that he showed up out of the blue. >> he just needed some money to continue moving on living on you know living and surviving. and so we gave him some and that was the last we had heard of him. we hadn't heard from him probably ten years prior to that or since. so this wa

police say this is the man responsible, 59-year-old john russel houser. he is described as a drifter staying at an area hotel. police say he killed himself adds police closed in but apparently he had plans to escape. >> we found wigs and glasses and disguises basically in his room. his vehicle had a switched license tag on it. it was parked right outside an exit door of the theater. it is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping. what happened is that the quick law enforcement response forced him back into the theater. at which time he shot himself. >> for more on the investigation, i want to bring in cnn contributor and scientist lawrence kobilinsky. welcome. >> pleasure. >> this is a strange case. not that any shootings like this make sense but he chooses a comedy to go to. right? stands up 20 minutes in. opens fire on the people directly in front of him. fires off 13 rounds. and then you know all chaos breaks out. he tries to blend in with the crowd. he gets outside. spots police. turns around. goes back in. shoots himself. >> there's

. >> right now, investigators are all over the motel 6 in lafayette, where gunman john russel houser lived for roughly the past month. police say houser has no apparent connection to that city and he was not previously known to them, nor did he have any connection to the two women that he killed, 21-year-old macy breaux and 31-year-old jillian johnson. police say houser tried to escape but he couldn't because they were on the scene in less than a minute. >> we know he had at least one additional magazine. reloaded and returned back into the theater at which point we think he fired one additional round and that was into himself. >> houser had run-ins with police in alabama and georgia. in 2008 he became so outraged over the prospect of his daughter's marriage, his family hospitalized him against his will and obtained a protective order to keep him away. he was also accused of trying to set his former home on fire after it was sold in foreclosure. >> there is the third high-profile mass shooting in the last six weeks and raising a lot of questions about our gun laws and our mental heal

officials in phenix city expected to share what they know about john russel houser from his time living there. we've also just learned more about the condition of the injured. here's what doctors at lafayette general medical center said minutes ago. >> a total of nine patients were treated and transported by ems. three patients were sent to each of the three hospitals in lafayette and then the -- we received two patients via private vehicle. >> most of them were extremity wounds. one person, one patient had a torso wound and that's the abdomen and his wounds were in the torso and lower extremities. all of our patients are expected to have a full recovery soon and soon be discharged from the hospital. >> two people were killed. 33-year-old jillian johnson passed away after being taken to the hospital. the singer musician graduated from the university of louisiana-lafayette in 2004. 21-year-old mayci breaux found dead at the scene. thomas roberts spoke to her 16-year-old sister just last hour. >> later on my dad called and tells us that she got shot and she's not -- she's gone. >> you wer

lafayette police have identified the deceased gunman as 59-year-old john russel houser. that's the best picture we have on our screen. investigators say houser's plan was to open fire in the theater and then flee the scene but the quick response they insist to the incident by local law enforcement in that area forced the gunman back into the theater where he ultimately took his own life. police have retrieved the shooter's weapon. they say fired at least 13 times. we also know the identities of the two women killed in this tragedy. they are twurn-year-old mayci breaux killed at the scene and 33-year-old jillian johnson, she died at nearby hospital. my colleague nbc's craig melvin is in lafayette. craig, the first responders probably prevented more bloodshed by getting there so quickly. what else do we know about this shooter and about this investigation? >> no doubt at all, peter. we just heard from the police chief there. he said those officers just so happened to be in the parking lot on duty when the call came in. they were i side in less than 60 seconds. it also soun

authorities say 59-year-old john russel houser killed two and injured nine others, before killing himself. court documents from years ago showed houser was mentally ill and prone to violence, to the extent he was hospitalized against his will and his wife hid his guns. we'll have more on the shooting- - plus a broader look at gun violence in america-- after the news summary. turkish fighter jets bombed islamic state targets in syria today, in retaliation for an isis attack on a turkish military outpost yesterday. it's the first time the country's military has engaged in direct combat with the militants. turkish forces also stepped up patrols along the syrian border. and police detained nearly 300 people they labeled "extremist" across the country in early morning raids. turkey's president said the escalation is necessary. >> ( translated ): our state and government will take needed action against any attack no matter what it is. it is not only for last night. we will take the necessary precautions for our nation's security and peace. last night was the start of this, and we will keep goin

this is john russell houser, white male, age 59. we're asking for anyone who had contact with him interaction with him to please call that number. >> if you're just waking up, you may not have heard that there was another mass shooting in this country last night. you've been listening to the lafayette, louisiana police updating us on what happened. they named the shooter who killed himself john houser, 59 years old described as kind of a drifter. both of the people that were killed in this shooting were women, ages 21 and 33. one victory mains in critical condition. the police also said that the shooter had the in tent of shooting and escaping, but because of the rapid police response within he ended up killing himself. they have recovered his 40 caliber handgun and are asking the public for more information. we'll be right back. >> welcome to al jazeera america. it is 8:36 eastern. our top story, police identified the man who killed two people and then himself at a movie theater in lafayette louisiana. his name is john russell hous

police have now identified 59-year-old john russel houser as the gunman who opened fire last night in a crowded theater in lafayette, louisiana, killing two people and wounding nine others before taking his own life. police say houser has passed relatively minor criminal offenses. >> he previously resided in the state of alabama. he's kind of a drifter. he's been in lafayette since early july as far as we can tell. he was staying at a local motel. we found wigs and glasses and disguises, basically, in his room. his vehicle had a switched license tag on it. it was parked right outside an exit door of the theater. it is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping. what happened is the quick law enforcement response forced him back into the theater, at which time he shot himself. >> police say they don't have a motive for the shooting this morning. they also identified the two people who were killed 21-year-old mayci breaux and 32-year-old jillian johnson. the gunman stood up about 20 minutes into the movie "trainwreck," pulled out a gun and started firing. about 80 people

into the background of the shooter john russell houser. police are starting to believe this attack here in lafayette was meticulously planned. i spoke with the state police colonel. listen to what he told me. >> we have been continuing to go through his rant and raves. he was on several blog sites and several groups had comments. we have seen a lot of writings of people making rhyme or reason of what he did. he was making comments. here is one thing that is clear. this man was of sound mind. he wrote it down. he said he is coming to the movie theater at 7:15 on thursday night. what we do believe is whether it was another theater in lake charles or baton rouge, or whatever reason he is in this theater at 7:27 and he stands up and kills two innocent people. >> reporter: we know police have been looking into houser's troubled past. particularly his mental health problems and run-in with law enforcement. his daughter and wife at one point had a protective order against him. colonel edmonson was concerned about the violence. they never thought

police say a 59-year-old john russell houser opened fire killing two and wounding nine others. he say houser tried to escape but turned the gun on himself. active duty officers who happened to be at the theater were called into action. law enforcement are trying to figure out a possible motive. >> we've got to put these things together and try to find closure for the family, for this community, for the men and women that worked in that theater. >> reporter: pleas describe hims a drifter from alabama estranged from his family, treated for mental health issues from 2008-2009. his hotel room is the center of the investigation. >> why was he living in a motel 8? why did he have wigs and glasses in there? >> reporter: law enforcement continues to search for answers but the community mourns the victims. >> let's give the family love and thoughts and prayers we can. >> reporter: and begin the process of healing. >> the resiliency of the community is being shown immediately. >> reporter: governor jindal ordered the flags in the state being lowered to half staff for those whoim lost the

also that houser had a history of mental problems. >> authorities say this man john russel houser bought a ticket at the grand theater. sat through the previews, 20 minutes through the movie stood up shot two people sitting in front of him and fired at the pawns>> how does the happiest place in the world produce someone so hate and evil to snand a -- stand and shoot people. >> witnesses say they thought the shots were a part of @ movie. >> we saw a lady with blood on her legs. >> police say houser shot and killed jillian johnson. 21-year-old mayci breaux from franklin louisiana also died at the scene. authorities believe houser trying to blend in with the crowd rushing out of the theater, saw police officers and went back inside. >> we know he had at least one additional magazine which he dropped in the lobby. he reinserted, reloaded and returned back into the theater at which point he think he fired one in additional round into himself. >> local and federal investigators are now digging into houser's path. saying he was a drifter and living in a motel 6 in lafayette for the past month.

d, 59-year-old john russell houser. police say houser took his own life shortly after police arrived on the scene. one community that knows the pain of lafayette first-hand is the city of aurora colorado. three years ago this month, james holmes opened fire in a crowded movie theater, killing 12 people and injured 70 others. holmes was convicted of murder in the attack last week and the penalty phase of his trial is now under way. we want to go live to colorado and scott cohn outside the courthouse. let's start first with how is reaction filtering there in that community to another movie theater shooting? >> yeah thomas a lot of people just waking up to this news. nowhere does it hit closer to home. three years ago this week the massacre nearby here in aurora colorado. we got in touch with sandy philips who lost her daughter jessica, in that attack. she said in an e-mail this is horrendous. can't believe another mass shooting. will when will we become numb or say enough is enough? she wrote in a blog post about seeing t

he saw john russel houser about a month ago and the last contact they had. listen. >> we hadn't been close in years. i'm not sure the right -- we just separated from our family and just different emotional depression issues, psychological problems, and that type thing. >> when was the last time you saw him? >> probably about a month ago. >> reporter: under what kind of circumstance? >> he just needed some money to continue moving on, living on, you know, living and surviving, and so we gave him some and that was the last we had heard of him. we hadn't heard of him prior to ten years prior to that and hadn't heard of him since. we didn't know where he was or anything about him so this was a complete shock. he hadn't had any contact, except that. >> reporter: so houser was estranged from his family. we know he was once married. he has a daughter. back in 2008 his wife filed a protective order and went as far as to remove guns and weapons from the home and had him voluntarily commit to a mental facility out of the safety of the whole family. >> what are you lea

. >> reporter: because in that same multiplex was john russell houser. sitting alone. 20 minutes into the movie, he fires a 59 caliber handgun. >> we thought it was the movie. once we realized that this is real, this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. he was so close to us. >> reporter: houser firing at least 13 rounds killing 2 and injuring 9 others. but movie goers jumping into action helping one another escape safely even forming a makeshift triage. two teachers seated in that same theater, jena using her body as a shield to protect her co-wokker. freeing ali to pull the fire alarm. >> we're have protective individuals. i'm very proud of them. >> reporter: now a community in mourning. a memorial growing out the store victim jillian johnson owned. . the 33-year-old an entrepreneur and a musician. johnson's family celebrating her life posting this photo on instagram and mayci breaux 21-year-old student remembered in a prayer service on friday. the governor touring the grisly crime scene. >> we'll get through this. it's going to be tough. but this

police say a 59-year-old john russell houser opened fire killing two and wounding nine others. he say houser tried to escape but turned the gun on himself. active duty officers who happened to be at the theater were called into action. law enforcement are trying to figure out a possible motive. >> we've got to put these things together and try to find closure for the family, for this community, for the men and women that worked in that theater. >> reporter: pleas describe hims a drifter from alabama estranged from his family, treated for mental health issues from 2008-2009. his hotel room is the center of the investigation. >> why was he living in a motel 8? why did he have wigs and glasses in there? >> reporter: law enforcement continues to search for answers but the community mourns the victims. >> let's give the family love and thoughts and prayers we can. >> reporter: and begin the process of healing. >> the resiliency of the community is being shown immediately. >> reporter: governor jindal ordered the flags in the state being lowered to half staff for those whoim lost the

police say 59-year-old john russel houser had a history of mental health issues. fox news correspondent will carr is in lafayette, louisiana tonight with the report. >> reporter: a fun thursday night turned horrific in a matter of seconds as an innocent group was gunned down as they were watching a movie. authorities say this man john russel houser bought a ticket to the new comedy train wreck at the grand theatre in lafayette, and stood up pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and shot two people in front of them. he fired at the audience reloading at least once. >> how does the happiest place produce somebody full of hate and eville to stand up in a movie theater and shoot people. >> reporter: witnesses say at first they thought the shots were part of the movie. >> we saw a lady with blood all over her leg, i grabbed my child and all ran. >> reporter: houser ultimately shot jillian johnson her family said their hearts are shattered. mayci breaux was also killed. authorities believe houser tried to blend in with the crowd and saw police officers and went back inside

police describe 59 year old john russell houser as a drifter from alabama with a criminal record ranging from arson to speeding. and his wife removed the guns from the home because of his mental state. >> it a pores that houser planned to escape and parking his car near an exit dor. he took his life after murdering two people and injuring nine others. >> when anybody in america is hurting we are all hurting. i know this will bring us closer together. for those who are not from here this is a normal movie theater in a normal part of a normal town. >> there is on line post. and combed through the hotel rom. and they found wigs and other disgoizs. we'll speak with the retired police detective as where the investigation goes from here as officers try to figure out the motive. >> in the mean time solemn procession of the people in the chattanooga attack. the procession heading to the airport in philadelphia to the final resting place. three victims in the escort. sergeant sylvan. and hornquest and randall smith. the attack in tennessee killed five service members. from america's election head

all five were shot after authorities say john russel houser stood up in the theater ened fire killing jillian johnson and mayci breaux. karen is monitoring the situation from the scene. reporter: movie goers gathered to see a comedy thursday night but the evening ended in tragedy instead. >> this is crazy. we were in shock. reporter: police say john russel houser opened fire and killing mayci breaux and jillian johnson and wounding nine others. houser tried to escape but turned the gun on himself when he saw police coming. the officers who were in the theater were call told action when the fire alarm were pulled. they are trying to figure out a mote i. >> we have to put these things together to find closure for the family for community and the men and the women that worked in the theater. reporter: police describe houser as a drifter from alabama who had become estranged from his family and had only been there since july. he was treated for mental health issues from 2008 to 2009. the hotel room they found several disguises is at the center of the investigation. >> why was he living in

he has been identified this man, john russell houser 59-year-old. two people were killed and nine were wounded on thursday in that attack. houser took his own life. louisiana's governor, bobby jindal has ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of these victims. police say houser posted many extremist opinions online and has been estranged from his family for many years. cnn's drew griffin reports on what we've learned about the shooter's past. >> reporter: the son of a tax collector, he was educated with a law degree but mental illness added to a lifetime of hate violence and bizarre behavior. the 59-year-old once ran for public office and in blog postings and editorials expressed stern views that the u.s. was headed downhill. muslim fundamentalists had it right, even showing admiration for adolf hitler. he has a history of abuse and erratic behavior from 1989 when he was arrested for trying to burn down an attorney's office. and in 2008 his wife filed a protective order, pleading with a court to have his guns taken away. this afternoon, the sus

they want to know what spurred john russell houser to open fire and turn the gun on himself. tom llamas has the story. >> reporter: overnight, a closer look at more details of the chilling moments this multiplex in lafayette louisiana, became the scene of a mass shooting. friends of those who died realizing what's lost. >> it's tough. >> reporter: first day 25 people seated for a screening of "trainwreck." including jonas and his friend whose seat choice made the difference. >> it would have been different if we were in the back row. >> reporter: in that same multiplex was john russell houser sitting alone until 20 minutes into the movie. the 59-year-old fires a.40 caliber hand gun causing confusion and chaos. >> we thought it was the movie. we realized, this is real. this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. he was so close to us. >> reporter: houser firing at least 13 rounds killing two and injuring nine others. >> everyone was just running down the stairs freaking outs climbing over chairs and people. >> reporter: movie goers helping one another escape safely even form

john russel houser left journal and disguises in a motel room. two people injured in the shooting remain in the hospital tonight. kimberly: turning now to a developing story. leon: police are looking in a background of a oregon man shot dead by a woman he attacked in west virginia. universities are trying to determine if neil falls was a serial killer linked to a string of unsolveed murders and disappearances nationwide. the victim was offering escort services on the website back page when she met falls. he showed up after her door saturday and that is when he attacked her. >> when he strangled me he just wouldn't let me get any air. so i grabbed my rake. when he laid the gun down to get the rake out of my hands i shot him. i grabbed the gun and shot behind me. leon: investigators say they found shovel, handcuffs bleach and other items in falls' vehicle. police are now trying to link him to several unsolved cases including the disappearances of six women in ohio. kimberly: a series of troubling incidents on the metropolitan branch trail raised qu

john russell houser, a 59-year-old drifter who left a series of antigovernment writings online. >> we looked at the blogs. he makes rants about situations around the united states, around the world. >> police in lafayette louisiana said he opened fire with a season 22 caliber pistol. killing macy rowe and jillian johnson. >> we heard shots we took off running and did not look back. >> as i get to the front i see a middle aged woman with blood coming from her legs. >> with officers surrounding the theater houser saw no way out. >> he intended to escape. he had the car parked outside an exit door, emergency exit door outside the theater. we think the early or immediate intervention by law enforcement prevented him from being able to leave the building so he reentered the theater and that's when he shot himself. >> we also know that houser was turned down for a concealed weapons permit in phoenix city, alabama, where he lived earlier this year. >> at the time he applied for the permit he had an arson arrest as well as a domestic violence report. >> the court ordered houser not to contact

. >> reporter: because in that same multiplex was john russell houser, sitting alone. entering the theater like everyone else. until 20 minutes into the movie, the 59-year-old fires a .40-caliber handgun to the women in front of him. >> we thought it was the movie. once we realized that this is real, this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. he was so close to us. >> reporter: houser firing at least 13 rounds, killing 2 and injuring 9 others. >> every was just running down the stairs freaking out, climbing over chairs and people. >> reporter: but moviegoers jumping into action, helping one another escape safely, even forming a makeshift triage outside the theater. more heroes stepping up. two teachers seated in that same theater, jena using her body as a shield to protect her co-worker ali, taking a bullet for her. freeing ali to pull the fire alarm. overnight, both women now released from the hospital. >> that's how we react to situations. we are protective individuals. i'm very proud of them. >> reporter: now, a community in mourning. a memorial growing outside t

they want to know what motivated john russell houser to open fire and then turn the gun on himself. we have the story. >> flowers left outside of the movie theaters. inside a horrific scene investigators are still combing through, trying to figure out what would trigger a man to suddendy stand into minutes into the movie "trainwreck" pull out a handgun and start shooting into the crowd. >> you realize this guy is shooting everyone in the theater. >> witnesses sharing heroic moments. strangers helping each other to safety. >> a woman pulled me around. she probably got me out of there three or four second faster than i would have by myself. >> jenna taking a bullet for fellow teacher ellie martin saving her life. martin then pulling the fire alarm. >> that teacher really saved everybody in the theater. >> and there were two would couldn't be saved, a 21-year-old and a 33-year-old mother pictured on instagram weren't have to sit there and to earning about we can to bring closer to the families. >> john russell houser took his own life when officers caught him trying to escape. investig