Louisiana theater shooter was a 'drifter' staying in a local motel


The gunman in the Lafayette, Louisiana, theater attack that left two dead Thursday night was identified as John Russell Houser, a "drifter" staying in a local motel, authorities said in a press conference Friday. Officials reported finding wigs, glasses, and other evidence of disguises in his motel room. According to police, Howser initially fled the theater after firing 13 rounds during a screening of the film Trainwreck, perhaps planning to escape, but re-entered the building and killed himself when he ran into responding police officers outside. Moviegoers Macy Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, also died of gunshot wounds.
Howser appeared to have "just happened to be in this theater," officials said. His motivation is unknown.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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