(CNN) Latest developments (all times in ET) 
 
 11:16 p.m. : The weapon used in the shooting was a handgun, said police Sgt. Brooks David. 
 
 10:52 p.m.: Authorities said they know the identity of the shooter but are withholding it so as not to "affect the integrity" of the investigation. 
 
 10:45 p.m.: He is a 58-year-old white male who was a theater patron fired multiple shots, said Col. Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police. The shooter was acting alone and is deceased, he said. There were about 100 people inside at the time. 
 
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 A man opened fire inside a movie theater in a Lafayette, Louisiana, multiplex, Thursday night, killing two people and wounding seven others -- before taking his own life. 
 
 "There's nothing to believe that there was any kind of motive," said Col. Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police. 
 
 The shooter was a 58-year-old white man who was a theater patron, police said. Authorities have his name but are withholding it as the investigation continues. 
 
 The shooting took place shortly before 8:30 p.m ET at the Grand Theatre 16 in Lafayette, a city of about 120,000 people, 60 miles west of Baton Rouge. 
 
 About 100 people were inside the theater for a screening of the comedy, "Trainwreck," when the shooter began firing using a handgun, police said. 
 
 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Law enforcement personnel stand near a police line at The Grand Theatre following a deadly shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Thursday, July 23. The shooter in the Lafayette movie theater shooting died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to Louisiana State Police. Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, center, speaks with the media near the scene. Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Federal investigators arrive. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette Police Department and Louisiana State Police units block an entrance road near the scene of the shooting. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana A Lafayette Police Department vehicle blocks an entrance at The Grand Theatre. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Police tape surrounds the scene. Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana Police and emergency vehicles at the scene of the shooting. Hide Caption 7 of 7 
 
 'Gunshots after gunshots' 
 
 Jalen Fernell said he was in a theater next door. 
 
 "I almost thought it was part of the movie at first," he said of the gunshots. 
 
 An alarm went off, followed by an overhead intercom message asking patrons to get out. 
 
 "Immediately we get terrified because they are telling us to head out to vehicles," he said. "It was kinda like a war going on ... gunshots after gunshots." 
 
 Paige Bearb, another witness, said she took off running when the alarm sounded. 
 
 "I saw people bleeding from the leg, they were shot," she said. "And I was like 'Wow.' It was like a movie itself." 
 
 Wanted to let everybody know I'm safe. I was in The Grand parking lot when cops arrived. It's worse than it looks on TV. Praying #Lafayette — ML1 Media (@mightylions1) July 24, 2015 
 
 'Awful night for the United States' 
 
 Four officers entered the theater and found the gunman dead. 
 
 "It appears the shooter died from a self inflicted gun shot wound after discharging his weapon numerous times," said Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft. 
 
 The extent of those who were injured range from critical to non-life threatening, he said. 
 
 Bomb squads conducted a sweep of the theater and the parking lot. Police temporarily closed a nearby Grand theater and deployed officers to other movie houses as a precaution. 
 
 They determined the gunman acted alone and there was no additional threat. 
 
 "Whenever we hear about these senseless acts of violence, it makes us both furious and sad at the same time," said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, from the scene of the shooting. 
 
 "This is an awful night for Lafayette, this is an awful night for Louisiana, this is an awful night for the United States. But we will get through this." 
 
 'My heart is broken' 
 
 The shooting occurred six days after the conviction of James Holmes in the Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting that left 12 people dead and 70 people wounded. 
 
 On July 19, 2012, Holmes opened fire during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" using an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and at least one .40 caliber handgun. The shooting stopped with Holmes' arrest outside the theater about seven minutes after the first 911 calls were made to police. 
 
 Late Wednesday night, Amy Schumer, the star of the movie "Trainwreck" tweeted, "My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana." 
 
 My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana. — Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015 
 
 While the shooter may have taken his motive with him with his death, the investigation is far from complete. 
 
 Authorities will put together a profile on the shooter, search his house and trace the gun, said CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin. 
 
 For now, said Gov. Jindal, "we can pray. 
 
 "We can hug these families. We can shower them with love, thoughts and prayers." ||||| Day 55 of the Aurora theater shooting trial 
 
 CENTENNIAL — Jurors in the Aurora theater shooting trial Thursday took a second, and expected, step toward deciding on a possible death sentence in the case. 
 
 After roughly seven hours of deliberations that began the day before, jurors determined that the 2012 murders at the Century Aurora 16 movie complex were heinous enough for James Holmes to be eligible for the death penalty. 
 
 The decision came one week after the jury of nine women and three men found Holmes guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 12 people inside the theater. It means the case now moves forward into step two of the sentencing process, during which defense attorneys will seek to humanize Holmes in the hopes of persuading jurors to sentence him to life in prison. 
 
 Jurors must deliberate two more times before they could deliver a death verdict. 
 
 The finding was anticipated by both sides — even though it took longer than expected — and it came without the same kind of emotional catharsis for the victims' families that the guilty verdicts afforded. Six parents whose children were killed in the theater sat on the victims' side of the courtroom Thursday when the jury's decision was announced. While the decision was read, the mother of Alex Teves clutched a small medallion she wears in memory of her son. 
 
 Forty minutes later, defense attorney Rebekka Higgs stood before the jurors, ready to begin the defense's case against a death sentence. Looking back at her, one of the alternate jurors wore a T-shirt bearing the artwork for the Metallica album "Ride the Lightning" — an image that features an electric chair. 
 
 "Ladies and gentlemen," Higgs began, "the first thing I want to let you know is we accept your verdicts. The most solemn decision, though, yet lies ahead for you." 
 
 In a two-minute opening statement, Higgs encouraged jurors to listen to the defense's witnesses in the coming days with compassion and understanding. She said the defense will give jurors a complete picture of Holmes' life. 
 
 "You are now responsible for that life," she said, "and you ought to know everything you can about that life." 
 
 Minutes later, the defense called the first of 10 witnesses of the day, a former neighbor of Holmes' family. 
 
 "They seemed like a very calm, peaceful family to me," Holly Price said. 
 
 Next came a clerk at Holmes' elementary school. 
 
 "He was very popular, very bright," Suzanne Diaz said. 
 
 Later came a piano teacher, a high school classmate and a middle school band instructor. 
 
 "He was a hard worker, a good trumpet player," James Posteraro remembered. "He was a good boy, a good boy at the time." 
 
 In the stream of testimony, a gap emerged between how Holmes was described as a young boy and as a teen. 
 
 To people who knew him as a child when his family lived in the central California county of Monterey, Holmes was a fun-loving kid with lots of friends. 
 
 "There was a whole band of them," recalled former neighbor Sandra Becker, whose son was friends with Holmes. 
 
 To people who knew him as a teenager after his family moved to the San Diego area, Holmes was shy and withdrawn. High school cross-country coach Lori Godwin remembered having to rearrange the team photo several times just to persuade Holmes to be a part of it. 
 
 "Everyone sat in circles," she said of the team. "But he wasn't part of the group. He wasn't bullied. But he was just kind of a shadow." 
 
 Colorado's system for deciding a possible death sentence is a seesaw affair. 
 
 Because state law allows the death penalty for only the worst of the worst murders, the first step requires prosecutors to prove at least one statutorily defined way in which the crime meets that standard. 
 
 Step two is where the defense presents its "mitigation" case, at the end of which jurors will be asked whether the things that make the murders so awful outweigh the things that suggest leniency, such as Holmes' mental illness or background. If they do, the case moves to step three, where victims' family members can testify and jurors make the final decision. 
 
 John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johningold ||||| CLOSE Police identified the man accused of opening fire in a Lafayette, Louisiana movie theater as John Russel Houser from Alabama. Houser is accused of shooting 11 people and then killing himself during an evening showing of 'Trainwreck.' 
 
 Gunman, whose identity has not been released, died of self-inflicted wound 
 
 Lafayette police stand outside of the Grand Theater Thursday in Lafayette, Louisiana. (Photo: Stacy Revere, Getty Images) 
 
 Three people were killed and nine wounded when a lone gunman opened fire in a Lafayette movie house Thursday evening. 
 
 Lafayette police confirmed shortly before 8 p.m. law enforcement officers responded to a call about an active shooter at the Grand 16 Lafayette at 3141 Johnston St. 
 
 Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft confirmed at least three people were killed, including the gunman, who died from a self-inflicted wound. 
 
 Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Nine were transported to area hospitals, eight by ambulance and one by private party. One victim died at a hospital. 
 
 The suspect was described by several witnesses as a white, middle-aged male. State Police said the shooter, whose identity was not released late Thursday, was 58 years old. 
 
 Mayhem in the theater 
 
 “We heard a loud pop we thought was a firecracker,” Katie Domingue of Carencro said. She was at the 7 p.m. showing of “Trainwreck” with her fiance, Joshua Doggett, in Theater No. 14. About 20 minutes into the movie, Domingue said, she heard a loud noise. 
 
 She said she saw “an older white man” standing up and shooting down, not in her direction. 
 
 “He wasn’t saying anything. I didn’t hear anybody screaming either,” Domingue said. 
 
 She heard about six shots, she said, before she and Doggett ran to the nearest exit, leaving behind her shoes and purse. 
 
 The scene in the theater parking lot reflected the mayhem of the evening. News media had been moved offsite and were reporting from in front of a nearby coffee shop, Johnston Street Java. The parking lot itself was filled with emergency vehicles, including a Haz-Mat unit. 
 
 Authorities also closed down the Grand 14 on Kaliste Saloom in what they said was an exercise in caution. The parking lot was cleared shortly before 10 p.m. there, with four State Police units on the scene. 
 
 Randall Man, Acadian Ambulance VP of marketing, said 10 ambulances and 26 paramedics responded to last night's shooting. 
 
 Three more ambulances were standing by for relief at a nearby Albertsons. 
 
 The first ambulances responded within 7 minutes of the initial call. 
 
 “We don’t know if this was just a random act or whether it was a domestic situation,” Craft said, saying the investigation was not far enough along. 
 
 Victims identities not confirmed 
 
 Authorities would not confirm the identities of those who were shot. But unconfirmed reports said the wounded included longtime Lafayette oilman Dwight S. “Bo” Ramsay, chairman of the board of Aries Marine Corp., and his wife, Gerri. The extent of their injuries was not revealed. 
 
 Some of the wounded were critically injured, authorities said, others had lesser wounds. 
 
 At least some of those who were shot were taken to Lafayette General Medical Center, Acadiana’s largest hospital. Lafayette General spokesman Daryl Cetnar said that by agreement with police, Lafayette General could not reveal whether the victims were taken there. He said the hospital would release a statement Friday. 
 
 But what appeared to be family members and friends of the victim milled around inside the Emergency Room. A Catholic priest was on the scene. 
 
 Jindal: 'This is an awful night' 
 
 Gov. Bobby Jindal called for prayers Thursday evening during a press conference. 
 
 “The best thing anybody can do right now is to think about them, pray for them,” he said. “We will get through this. We are a resilient community. This is an awful night for Lafayette. This is an awful night for Louisiana. This is an awful night for the United States.” 
 
 CLOSE Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal described "amazing acts of heroism and selflessness" performed by Lafayette theater shooting victims and cops. He pinpointed teachers who pulled a fire alarm and cops who prevented the gunman from causing more harm. 
 
 In an issued statement, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, said, “I’m saddened at the terrible loss of life represented in tonight’s tragic shooting at a movie theater in my hometown of Lafayette. Bridget and I are praying for the families and friends of the victims at this difficult time. I will work with the Lafayette Police Department, local, state and federal officials to get to the bottom of what happened tonight.” 
 
 'Blood everywhere' 
 
 Jalen Fernell, 20, of Lafayette, was in the Grand Theatre watching “Southpaw” with friends when he heard gunshots. 
 
 “They were very faint over the movie. I thought it was part of the movie,” Fernell said. “About five seconds later, sirens went off and I realized it wasn’t the movie.” 
 
 A voice over the intercom told moviegoers to evacuate the theater, Fernell said. Patrons, unaware of what happened, took off running, he said. 
 
 Outside the theater, police were everywhere late Thursday. 
 
 “I saw a woman lying on the ground outside with blood everywhere. She was shot in the leg,” Fernell said. “We didn’t know what to do. You’re scared to walk through the parking lot, You don’t know if the guy’s in a car, hiding in the parking lot.” 
 
 Additional police arrived at the scene and entered the building, armed with assault rifles, he said. 
 
 “I heard gunshots like a war going on,” Fernell said. 
 
 When the gunfire stopped, he heard from a police car radio that six people were down in Theater No. 14, he said. 
 
 More police arrived and charged inside; additional shots were fired. Fernell said he heard someone say the suspect was down; he had committed suicide. 
 
 In the theater where the shooting took place, Emily Mann, 21, was watching “Trainwreck,” seated in the second row from the top of the theater with a friend. He father, Randall Mann, said his daughter heard popping noises and noticed flashes coming from a gun that was held by a man in the same row on the other side of the theater. 
 
 Randall Mann is vice president of marketing and public relations at Acadian Ambulance. He said his daughter was not up to speaking about the incident Thursday night. 
 
 map (Photo: map) 
 
 Mann said Acadian Ambulance transported eight patients to area hospitals. The company responded with 10 ambulances and off-duty personnel who heard about the shooting and showed up at the scene to help, he said. 
 
 The Grand Theatres in Lafayette and Broussard are owned by New Orleans-based Southern Theatres LLC. 
 
 The company operates multiplex stadium-seating movie theaters in Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. 
 
 The Daily Advertiser reporters Seth Dickerson, Jessica Goff, Claire Taylor, Herman Fuselier and Ken Stickney contributed to this report. 
 
 Read or Share this story: https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2015/07/23/shooting-reported-grand-theatre-johnston/30598925/
– A gunman opened fire inside a multiplex movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, tonight, killing two people and himself, and injuring seven more, reports NBC News. A witness tells the Daily Advertiser that she heard gunshots about 20 minutes into a showing of Trainwreck. She describes seeing "an older white man" shooting, apparently at random. "He wasn't saying anything," she says. Police have identified the shooter only as a 58-year-old male, reports KLFY. Authorities say he used a handgun in the attack and died of a self-inflicted gunshot. "The best thing anybody can do right now is to think about them, pray for them, shower them with your love is the most important thing we will get through this," say Gov. Bobby Jindal, who went to the scene. "We will get through this. We are a resilient community. This is an awful night for Lafayette. This is an awful night for Louisiana. This is an awful night for the United States." A person in the multiplex tells CNN he saw a woman who had been shot. "She was just looking at me in complete fear." The shooting comes as jurors in Colorado debate the death penalty for Aurora theater shooter James Holmes.