police identified the gunman as 59-year-old john russell houser.cribing 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

police identified the gunman at 59-year-old john russell houser from alabama. he shooting happened last night during a showing of the movie train wreck. police say houser waited 20 minutes into the movie stood up from a seat and opened fire on the crowd. there were about 100 people in the theater at the time. stay with us as we continue to follow the latest details out of louisiana this morning. we have full coverage on air and online. >>> two wildfires burning in northern california, highway 50 in the sierra shut down. lake berryessa is the other with evacuations. highway 50 fire started as a car fire. shut down from placerville to south lake. 5% contained mandatory evacuations. on the right is the growing wildfire in lake berryessa. 15 to 20% contained in the last few minutes. jackie is monitoring the rag fire that started near rag canyon. he's joining us from winters. jackie. >> reporter: morning mark. i'm here at the winters community center and this red cross center is still open, although they have allowed some people to go back to their homes for folks th

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 off. the associated press finding these documents and we're getting at least a little bit of an idea of how this man was. again he was found dead inside of the

killer and new pictures of a moaned allegedly trashed by the louisiana movie theater shooter john 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

john russell howser. officers say he intended on killing and he had an escape plan as well. >> 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

police do not know the motive of the gunman. 59-year-old john russel houser.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 said no

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 w

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 shows an officer and two civilians coming to the aid of one victim. houser's car, a 1995 blue lincoln continental with swapped-out license plates was parked right outside the exit leaves his keys on top the tire. police say his plan was to escape. >> there were two police officers actually on the property at the time the incident occurred. the quick response forced him back into the theater, at which time he shot himself. >> reporter: 21 mayci breaux died on scene. 33-year-old jillian johnson suck coupled to her injuries at a nearby hospital. two of those injured were teachers getting ready for the start of a

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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

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 t

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

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

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 fired 13 shots inside of the theater. they say he tried to leave his crowd when the crowd ran out but turned back when he saw police. victims include macy bro jillian johnson was 33 years old, she died at a nearby hospital. investigators remained at the crime scene looking for clues and a motive. >> why would you come here and do something like this? and, so, just like the the victims, we're searching for answers to. >> reporter: police are asking the public for help. omarvillea franca, cbs news, louisiana. >>> defense attorneys are fighting for the life of james holmes, man convicted in the colorado movie theater

john russell houser of alabama originally from columbus georgia, came to lafayette just weeks ago, we'rebout it. houser's family said he had a history of man i can depression and/or bipolar disorder. a police order filed in 2008 we know that houser got a degree from faulkner university he was active on political bulletin boards posting anti-government anti-news media messages on a web site back in 2013. in his biography on the political forum blog he wrote "believe the u.s. will be mad max in under five years." adding "no family is safe in the u.s. environment." lafayette's police chief says houser left some key evidence behind in that motel room. >> 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. >> let's bring in tom fuentes, our cnn law enforcement analyst. also joining us matthew fogg a fo

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

one still in critical condition this morning, the gunman has been identified as 59-year-old john russell houserlabama but is described as a drifter and has been in the lafayette area since early july. police say that houser parked his car near the theater's exit door and was planning on escaping but couldn't because police got there so quickly. the shooting happened last night at the grand theater in a showing of the comedy movie train wreck, houser waited 20 minutes before he stood up and open tired on the crowd. >>> and we are watching weather around the by area as well as conditions for the fire in sierra. the fog is breaking up already. >>> yeah, we are looking for a calmer day for firefighters, wins are calming down, you can see in the live shot, the clouds aren't near as widespread as we had seen them over here in the past couple days, we have a lot of patchy clouds here, clear blue sky as well, morning sunshine coming into view on the horizon as we look off to the east on the right-hand side of your screen, also seeing a great shot, too, this is out at the airport, sfo where we have the

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. 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. she e

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

police in lafayette, louisiana, also say that john russell houser had a history of mental health issues and posted extreme opinions online. two women were killed and nine other people wounded in thursday's attack. houser then killed himself. two teachers were inside that theater that night, and not only did they save each other, during the chaos, they were somehow able to pull off the fire alarm that likely saved many many other lives. cnn's kyung lah reports. >> get the ambulances over here now! >> chaos, basically. >> reporter: unfolding inside the movie theater where high school teachers jena meaux and ali martin were celebrating a last girls night out before the start of school. >> wow. they took their training and put it into action even outside of the classroom. >> reporter: their training as teachers says friend and co-worker cammie training you don't expect to use while watching a movie. >> one teacher jumped in front of her friend potentially saving her life. the second teacher said that bullet was coming for her head if her friend hadn't jumped on top of her. both were injured

but authorities do say that they believe that john russell houser came here with the intention of trying to get away alive, but it was two officers that busted into the theater there and right as they did that they say houser turned the gun on himself. but authorities here believe that houser intended to try toes cape from the theater alive. >> we found wigs and glasses and disguises 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. >> reporter: now i want to talk about the victims in this case. two women were killed in the shootout there. nine other people were wounded. one of those victims is still in critical condition. two others have already been released. >> just so sad. supposedly authorities said they searched a nearby hotel. what can you tell us about that part of the investigation, ed? >> they have been there since 4:30 this morn

police say this is the man responsible, 59-year-old john russel houser.g 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 nothing funny about this and obvious

. >> 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

grabbed my child, i mean we just all ran. >> reporter: the gunman-- identified as 59-year-old john russel houser-- opened fire on the crowd just 20 minut into the film. investigators this morning characterized houser as a drifter. >> 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. >> reporter: court papers from 2008 revealed that houser's family had filed a temporary restraining order against him, saying he was violent and mentally ill. the court filing also stated houser's wife kellie-- who filed for divorce in march-- had removed all the weapons from their house out of concern over his mental state. officials today said houser had been denied a concealed-weapons permit in 2006 because of an arson arrest and domestic violence complaint. last night's tragedy comes in the wake of two other, recent high-profile mass shootings: four marines and a sailor were killed in chattanooga, tennessee last week and in june, nine members of emanuel a.m.e. church in charlest

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

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

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

police say john russel houser legally bought the gun he used at a pawnshop last year. 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 diggi

d, 59-year-old john russell 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 the report of her da

. >> reporter: john we learned more about the background of john russell houser. police are starting to believe this attack was meticulously planned. i spoke with the state police and listen to what the police discovered. >> we continue to go through the rants and raves on the internet. he was on several blog sites and the different groups has comments and we have seen a lot of writings of people trying to make rhyme or reason. we will continue to go through that. here is one thing that is perfectly clear. this man was certainly of sound mind because he wrote it down. he said he is coming to the movie theater on 7:15 on thursday night. we believe whether it was lake charles or lafayette or baton rouge, maybe disguised himself. for whatever reason he is in this theater on that night, at 7:27 and he stands up and he kills two innocent people. >> reporter: we also know police have been looking into houser's troubled past. particularly mental health problems and run in with law enforcement. his daughter and wife had a protective order out against him. colonel edmonson

police say a 59-year-old john russell houser opened fire killing two and wounding nine others.y 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 their liv

. >> new details we want to show you about louisiana theater movie shooter john russel houser. here are new pictures we are going to show you here. >> destroyed rooms and dead fish strewn about. the new owners of the home describe what they found when they moved in. listen. >> cement in every drain. in the sink, lavatory, commode, everywhere you could. showers. >> walked in where he had a gas line, a gas log that unattached and lit with gasoline cans in front. he was waiting for us -- whoever to come in and for it to blow up. >> anna cabrera is following the story for us live from lafayette, louisiana. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. we are learning more about john russell russell houser's past and what happened in the theater behind me. it is still blocked off. investigators they they are still processing the evidence through the inside. with him, houser had a gun that he purchased legally at a pawn shop back in alabama. now we are told after he shot nearly a dozen people, he then left through a side exit door near where his car was parked, but he saw investiga

police say a 59-year-old john russell houser opened fire killing two and wounding nine others.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 their lives

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

. >> 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 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

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 a motel 8? why did he have wigs and glasses? >> law enforcement continued to search for answers the community mourns the victim. >> let's give the families all the love and thoughts and prayers we can. that is what we need the most. >> begin a slow process of recovery. >> my community is healing as we speak. the resiliency

police in lafayette, louisiana, also say john russell houser had a history of mental health issues and posted far right opinions online. two women were killed and nine other people were wounded in thursday's attack. houser then killed himself. two teachers were in that theater that night, and they helped save each other and played a key role in evacuating moviegoers. as louisiana governor bobby jindal said they were among the many heroes. >> i do want to remind folks, there were incredible heroic acts. you've heard about the police officers that ran towards the sound of gunfire, very likely saving many lives in doing so. you heard about the teachers, one who jumed in front of her friend, a second who pulled a fire alarm even though she herself was shot. we today heard about a couple who took a wounded victim in their own car to the hospital they didn't even wait to make sure that person got treatment as quickly as possible. >> both teachers were wounded but are okay as we understand. cnn's kyung lah has more on how their night at a comedy movie turned into a horror show. >> get over he

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

they want to know what spurred john russell houser to open fire and turn the gun on himself.as 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 forming a mak

lafayette louisiana, thank you. >>> authorities in louisiana say they will go over every detail of john russell houser's life. jonathan betz has also been looking into houser's past and joins us jonathan. >> david, is he described as a drifter, unstable, raising concerns about how to keep troubled people away from weapons. one day after the shooting the question that so many people have is that how john houser a person with a long history of mental illness was still able to get a gun and open fire in a crowded movie theater. >> everyone was just running down the stairs, freaking out climbing over chairs and people and everyone was screaming and it was awful. >> reporter: in 2006 he was denied a schemed concealed weapons permit. his family had him committed in 2008 and 2009 calling him a danger. alabama officials voiced their frustration about the difficulty of dealing with case like houser, where there is a mental factor. >> the cuts around the state is allowing a lot of these people that should not be walking around to be out in the community and that's a scary scenario that we're dealing with every da

they want to know what motivated john russell houser to open fire and then turn the gun on himself.he 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. investigators are

. >> 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. causing confusion and chaos. >> we thought it was the movie. but then, 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. >> everyone 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. and there more heroes stepping up. two teachers seated in that same theater, jena using her body as a shield to protect her friend and 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 very protective individuals, and i'm very proud of them