Louisiana Moms, Aurora Theatre Shooting Survivor Respond to Lafayette Movie Theater Shooting in Which Two Were Killed and Nine Were Injured

NEW ORLEANS — Everytown for Gun Safety today released statements from the Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, and from Tom Teves, whose son Alex was killed in the Aurora movie theater tragedy, in response to the shooting on Thursday evening at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana in which two people were killed and nine people were injured. The shooting occurred just days after the third anniversary of the mass shooting in an Aurora movie theater in which 12 people were killed and more than 70 others suffered life-altering injuries.

STATEMENT FROM SARA CUSIMANO, A VOLUNTEER LEADER FOR THE LOUISIANA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION:

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families of the victims and those who are fighting for their lives in the hospital. While details are still unfolding, we know that two people were killed and nine others were injured while doing something all Americans should feel safe doing – watching a movie. It’s been just over three years since the Aurora theater shooting and it is incomprehensible that our community is feeling the same shock and horror that Coloradans experienced in 2012. From Charleston to Chattanooga, to now right here in Louisiana – we’re tired of political leaders telling us that all we can do is pray in the wake of senseless tragedies like these. American moms have had enough – we demand that our political leaders take action to protect our communities from gun violence.”

STATEMENT FROM TOM TEVES, FATHER OF ALEX TEVES, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE AURORA THEATER SHOOTING ON JULY 20, 2012

“Once again, another community is reeling from a senseless act of gun violence and our hearts go out to them, the victims and those whose lives will be forever changed by the tragedy in Lafayette. I know all too well what they are experiencing right now — exactly what my wife and I felt three years ago when a gunman opened fire in the Aurora movie theater and killed our son Alex along with eleven others and wounded 70 more physically and hundreds mentally. Something is very wrong in our society when Americans can’t feel safe in a movie theater, or where they worship, or in a shopping mall. Enough is enough. It’s time for our elected leaders to stand up, take action and stop allowing the gun lobby to put profits ahead of lives. It’s time for meaningful solutions so that Not One More life is taken by gun violence. Failure to act makes our politicians culpable for this carnage.”

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING:

Incident:

• At approximately 7:20 p.m., (8:30 p.m. EST), a white, 59-year old male shot two and injured nine before fatally shooting himself during a screening of “Trainwreck” at the Grand Theatre in Lafayette, LA.

Location:

• The movie theater shooting occurred at “The Grand Theatre 16” in Lafayette, LA. Lafayette, LA is approximately 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, LA.

Shooter

• The shooter was identified by media reports as a white 59-year old man from Alabama. He had a prior criminal history, the details of which, have not yet been confirmed.

Victims:

• The identities of the victims have not yet been publicly identified. The number of victims are confirmed as two fatally shot and nine injured. Law enforcement indicated that the victims ages range between late teens to late 60s.

Statements

• “Whenever we see these or hear about these senseless acts of violence, it makes us both furious and sad at the same time. Lafayette is a strong community, we will get through this, we’re 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.” –Bobby Jindal (R)
  
• “Please join Laura and I in praying for those in Lafayette right now.” – Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy (R)

Louisiana Gun Facts
Louisiana is the most dangerous state for gun violence: its gun murder rate is the highest in the nation, a 164% higher than the national rate.