Celebrities React to Lafayette Theater Shooting
by Samantha Vincenty | PopCrushJust six days after James Holmes was found guilty on 24 counts of first-degree murder for a 2012 Aurora, Colo. shooting in a movie theater, a similarly horrific crime was committed in Lafayette, La. last night (July 23).
KPEL 96.5 reports that an audience at the Grand Theatre 16 in Lafayette were just 20 minutes into a screening of the movie Trainwreck at roughly 7:30 p.m. local time when a 58-year-old white male stood up and started firing into the crowd. The shooting left nine injured and three dead, including the shooter, who reportedly took his own life upon authorities’ arrival.
Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft said in a press conference that several of the injuries were critical, and victims’ ages ranged from teens to in their 60s. Craft shared (via MSNBC), “The information we have at this time indicates that he was by himself, he sat by himself and the first two people he shot were sitting right in front of him … When he stood up and started firing, people started rushing out. It looks like he spotted the officers coming in and he turned around, went against the crowd and fired a single gunshot.”
Though the police don’t think the shooter has conspirators, officers were dispatched to nearby theaters as a precaution.
Upon learning of the random (and very, very terrifying) shooting, Trainwreck star Amy Schumer tweeted, “My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.” Other stars including Sam Smith and Gabrielle Union voiced their condolences as well — see more celebrity reactions below.
My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015
ANOTHER shooting. What is happening. So sad. Thoughts are with the family's of those injured and killed x
— SAM SMITH (@samsmithworld) July 24, 2015
May God help us all… No words… Where is it safe to exist? #Lafayette #Charleston #SandyHook #Aurora #TooManyPainfulHashtags #America
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) July 24, 2015
Came back to the hotel and saw the devastating news about the shooting in Lafayette. Sending my thoughts and prayers to all involved.
— John Green (@johngreen) July 24, 2015
My heart and prayers go out to those in Louisiana affected by the shooting tonight. As a nation we NEED to rise above the violence.
— Tamera Mowry-Housley (@TameraMowryTwo) July 24, 2015
My heart and prayers go out to the #Lafayette community after yesterday's theater shooting.
— Barry L Bonds (@BarryBonds) July 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt/status/624400531994357760
Praying for my folks in Lafayette, La. So sorry for senseless loss and those injured. We should be able to see a movie and not get shot!!
— Willie Robertson (@williebosshog) July 24, 2015
Celebrities React to Lafayette Theater Shooting
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