Authorities release more information on Louisiana shooting that killed 2 and gunman
More details have emerged about the shooting at a Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater that killed three people Thursday night, including the gunman.
Police say a 58-year-old white male opened fire at a screening of Trainwreck at the Grand Theatre 16. There were about 100 people in the room, and two were killed and at least seven injured. The gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police say they know the man's identity, but won't release it, and also said he had a "criminal history," although it was not recent, The Guardian reports.
Colonel Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police told reporters they do not yet have a motive for the shooting. Officers did find the shooter's car in the parking lot of the theater, and called the bomb squad after seeing a suspicious package inside. The package was detonated early Friday morning after police cleared the area of reporters and bystanders, and bomb squad members then entered the theater, as police dogs had alerted them that there could be more suspicious packages inside. Once the inside is clear, detectives will be able to enter and start investigating, a state police officer said. He noted that the three bodies remain inside the theater.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said he has visited survivors in the hospital, including a teacher who saved the life of her friend after she "literally jumped over her" to shield her from the gunman. The teacher thought she was shot in the leg, but managed to pull the fire alarm, warning the entire theater that something was going on. "I think as we learn more about the details, we are going to hear about other acts of selfless heroism, of people trying to help each other and trying to save other lives," Jindal said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black men
Speed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Shooting at Chiefs victory rally kills 1, injures 21
Speed Read Gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade in Missouri
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published