Lafayette Movie Theater Shooting: Teacher Heroically Jumped in Front of Coworker and ''Saved Her Life''

"If she hadn't done that...that bullet, she believed it would have hit her in the head," Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a press conference

By Bruna Nessif Jul 24, 2015 10:13 PMTags
Shooting in LafayetteTreylan Arceneaux via AP

This is proof that heroes walk among us every day.

A school teacher selflessly jumped in front of a colleague to shield her during the deadly shooting at a movie theater in Lafayette Thursday night, which left three people dead, including the gunman, and nine wounded. One of the teachers was able to pull the fire alarm to alert authorities despite being injured, according to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

"Her friend literally jumped over her, and in her account actually saved her life," Jindal said at a press conference, after he visited with victims at a hospital. "If she hadn't done that...that bullet, she believed it would have hit her in the head."

He continued, "Even though she was shot in the leg, she had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to help save other lives," and added that the teachers were simply enjoying a night out before the school year started up again.

"Today is a day that not only angers but saddens all of us," Jindal said. "This is an awful night that brings us together as a community."

E! News has confirmed with Lafayette Police Department last night that there was a shooting at the Grand Theatre, almost three years to the day of The Dark Knight Rises shooting in Aurora.

Authorities said they received a call that came in at approximately 7:30 p.m. about an active shooting, and couldn't confirm what movie was playing, but multiple outlets report it was Amy Schumer's comedy Trainwreck.

Injuries inflicted last night "range from non-life threatening to critical and life-threating," according to a press conference led by Chief of Police Jim Craft. Authorities didn't release the gunman's identity until earlier today, revealing that it was John Russell Houser, 59, of Phenix City, Ala., who reportedly had a history of mental illness, as well as issues with women's rights and minorities.

"He was by himself, he sat by himself, and the first two people he shot were right in front of him," Chief Craft said. He identified the two dead women as Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33. The wounded ranged in age from their teens to their 60s, and one was listed Friday in critical condition. Two were treated and released.

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