On Thursdy night, John Russel Houser entered a Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater and shot nine people during a screening of Trainwreck. When authorities approached, Houser turned the gun on himself. Before the 59-year-old white man killed himself, he took the lives of two young women: Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33.
Breaux was from Franklin, Louisiana, about 50 miles away from the theater where the shooting took place. According to social media, she attended Louisiana State University. She worked for Coco Eros, a clothing store in Lafayette. Following her death, the store posted a memorial on their Facebook page:
Nothing ever prepares you for a loss... Much less the loss of such an amazing young woman. We are deeply saddened by...
Posted by coco eros on Friday, July 24, 2015
Jillian Johnson, from Lafayette, died at the hospital following the shooting. Johnson was married to Jason Brown, and they owned the Red Arrow Workshop together, a shop which features handmade products from Louisiana. On her store's website, Johnson described herself as a fan of literature, close with her brother, Bram, and lover of the movie Coal Miner's Daughter. On her Facebook page, friends remembered Johnson as a fun loving and talented artist who would be deeply missed.
Seven others, who were not identified, were injured in the attack. Of those injured, two were released from the hospital during the night. One person remains in serious condition and underwent surgery. The conditions of the other four victims have not been disclosed by police. The injured range in age from their late teens to their 60s, authorities said during a press conference early Friday morning.
Among those shot were two school teachers, Jena Meaux and Ali Martin. One of the teachers jumped in front of the other, shielding her from gunfire. Though she was shot in the leg, the woman was able to grab the fire alarm, urging other movie goers to evacuate the theater. The woman who pulled the fire alarm has not yet been identified.
Uncommon Knowledge
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