The Lafayette theater shooter who murdered two and injured nine before putting his own lights out in Lafayette, Louisiana’s Grand Theater last night has been identified as Alabama drifter John Russel Houser. “Houser, 59, who killed himself, is among three people who died, police said. The other two were Mayci Breaux, 21, of Franklin, Louisiana, who died at the theater, and Jillian Johnson, 33, of Lafayette, who died at the hospital.” And from the report, Houser didn’t start the shooting intending it to be a suicide mission . . .
“It is apparent he was intent on shooting and escaping” before police forced him back into the theater where he shot himself to death, Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft said at the news conference, explaining that his 1995 blue Lincoln Continental was positioned near the exit.
Police found wigs and glasses in his car and motel room, Craft said.
Thankfully, we’ll be spared the expense and the spectacle of another Holmesian trial. And as expected, it took all of 12 minutes for first calls for more gun control laws to ring out.
The President was en route to Africa at the time of the shooting, so we’ve been spared his expressions of disappointment and deep thoughts on the situation. For now. But whatever he says, whenever he says it, it will no doubt be profound and enlightening. We can hardly wait.