Two Women Killed in Louisiana Theater Shooting, Police Say

LAFAYETTE — (CNN) One co-owned a gift and toy shop. Another was a college student who also worked at a women’s clothing store.

But now, Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21, won’t be able to go to work, go to school or spend time with their loved ones again.

The two were among those shot Thursday night by a gunman at a Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater at a showing of the Amy Schumer comedy, “Trainwreck.”

Breaux, of Franklin, Louisiana, was killed at the scene, and Johnson, who was from Lafayette, died a short time later at a nearby hospital, Lafayette police Chief Jim Craft said.

“Don’t lose sight of the fact that these two individuals had a vision, had a name, had a future,” said Col. Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police. “It wasn’t to die as they did horribly in this theater here.”

Of the nine others injured, one is in critical condition Friday morning, and two have been released, Craft said. Authorities identified the gunman as 59-year-old John Russell Houser.

An online business profile identifies Johnson as the co-owner of the Red Arrow Workshop.

The business is described as a gift, apparel, accessories and toy shop. Johnson owned the shop with her husband, Jason, the website says.

She was “obsessed with Fats Waller,” and her all-time favorite movie was “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” according to the site.

Breaux attended Louisiana State University-Eunice, according to LSU President F. King Alexander.

She worked at Coco Eros, a women’s clothing store in Lafayette. Her employer posted on Facebook that “many of you had come to know and love Mayci” during her time working there.

“Nothing ever prepares you for a loss… Much less the loss of such an amazing young woman,” the Coco Eros post said. “We are deeply saddened.”

Houser killed both women and wounded the others after opening fire from the back of the theater before shooting himself, Craft said.

Authorities said he was a “drifter” from Alabama who had arrived in Lafayette in early July and didn’t appear to know anybody there, much less the victims.