A heartbreaking tragedy. At least three people have been confirmed dead after a fatal shooting at Lafayette, Louisiana's Grand 16 Theatre during a screening of Amy Schumer's comedy Trainwreck on Thursday, July 23.
According to local media reports, a gunman opened fire in the theater around 7:30 p.m., shooting nine people and then turning the gun on himself. Lafayette police chief Jim Craft confirmed during a press conference that at least three people were dead, including the gunman himself, and three others remain in critical condition in hospital.
Craft told CNN that the gunman was a "lone, white male" who is thought to have been 58 years old, and was among the 100 strong audience at the screening of the Judd Apatow-directed comedy. Police have no knowledge of a motive and believe the shootings to have been random. His weapon was a handgun.
Louisana's movie theater tragedy comes three years and three days after the Aurora, CO shootings during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises which left 12 people dead and 70 injured in 2012.
As details continue to emerge, Trainwreck writer and star Schumer reacted to the shocking news via social media.
"My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana," the comedian and actress wrote in the hours after the news story broke.
My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015
The American Film Institute released the following statement in reaction to the tragedy:
"Going to a summer movie is a celebration of the American creative spirit and one of our nation’s most beloved pastimes. Let us stand together in these times of tragedy and embrace what is precious to us — churches, schools and places where the arts can send our spirits soaring. As a national community of artists and audiences, AFI offers our heartfelt sympathies to the victims in Louisiana and their families."
Updates will be posted as this story unfolds.
