Round and that was into himself. Houser had runins with police in alabama and georgia. In 2008 he became so outraged over the prospect of his daughters marriage, his family hospitalized him against his will and obtained a protective order to keep him away. He was also accused of trying to set his former home on fire after it was sold in foreclosure. There is the third highprofile mass shooting in the last six weeks and raising a lot of questions about our gun laws and our Mental Health system. Steve handelsman is live on capitol hill with that part of the story. Steve . Reporter chris, thanks up here in congress after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, tougher gun chrome was defeated. The same time, many states have cut their funding for Mental Health care. Now, both issues are from the burner. Lafayette is the third u. S. Mass shooting in 37 days by a suspect said to have mental or emotional issues. In charleston, where nine died, it was dylann roof. In chattanooga where five
Murder which we believe he didnt commit that causes almost anyone to be nervous. Remember when you were 18, you may act a little differently at 18. Reporter as for how sutherlands parents are dealing with with the loss and now the prosecution of a suspect at the funeral mass which was so extraordinarily beautiful in kevins honor, the priest said to doug and terry, are you ready to forgive and they said yes, we are. We just dont want our sons death to be in vain. Reporter now, spires due back in court late august, when we will learn the results of his mental evaluation. During todays proceeding, there is no mention of spires being under the influence of any drugs at all during that attack. Coming up at 6 00 you will hear from the defense attorney as he pokes holes in the prosecutions case, including one witness who identified a different suspect as the killer. In the district, Mark Segraves news4. During part of his time here in the district, Kevin Sutherland interned for connecticut co
Reporter Police Rushed in just after the first shots rang out. It was just loud, like one big, loud bang, made my ears ring. I knew it was a gunshot. Reporter witnesses say a 59yearold drifter, john russel houser, stood up in the crowded theater and opened fire. He looked like he was very calm, standing there, kind of walking down the aisle and firing. Reporter two people were killed in the attack, nine others wounded. Shock. Shocked. I dont even know what to say about the situation. Reporter today, as their investigation continues, police are learning more about the man they say is responsible. He clearly knew what he was doing, clearly had some kind of a plan, because he bought the ticket, in the theater, he had the gun. Reporter a plan that according to officers, became more clear as they searched the hotel he had been living in. We found wigs and glasses and disguises basically in his room. It is apparent that he was intent on shooting and then escaping. Reporter things apparently
Now abc 7 news at 11 00 on your side. First at 11 00, a man with a history of Mental Illness and a prior arrest opened fire if a louisiana Movie Theater last night killing two people and injuring several others. Tonight we are learning more about the gunmans past and how he got that weapon. This as many are struggling to come to grips with the surge in Mass Shootings in our country. Ashley coleman is live with new developments on this case and how this tragedy is impacting what is a very busy time for theaters around here. Ashley. Ashley it is the start of the weekend when folks are headed to the movies and families are telling us their hearts go out to the victims in louisiana, but theyre not letting what happened there shatter their sense of security. It was a terrifying scene inside this louisiana Movie Theater. Everyone was just running down the stairs freaking out, climbing over chairs and people and everyone was screaming. Ashley police say 59yearold John Russel Howser stood up a