Police tape surrounds the scene following a shooting at a movie theater Thursday, July 23, 2015, in Lafayette, La. (Associated Press)
Washington:
The 59-year-old American who opened fire in a Louisiana theater killing two people and wounding nine more purchased his handgun legally, police said Friday.
John Houser bought his .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun openly and legally at a pawn shop in Phenix, Alabama, Lafayette police chief Jim Craft told reporters.
"ATF has informed us that the purchase was legal," Craft said, in reference to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency that tracks firearms.
Houser opened fire on Thursday night killing two women and wounding nine more people during a screening of comedy "Trainwreck" at a crowded theater before killing himself.
His online history depicts him as a conspiracy theorist who held Nazi-sympathizing and anti-government views.
Houser's wife had a restraining order filed against him in 2008 and there are reports that he had a historic of psychological problems.
The shooting came almost exactly three years after a 2012 theater massacre in Colorado that left 12 dead and 70 injured.
A Colorado jury is currently considering whether that shooter should be sentenced to death.
John Houser bought his .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun openly and legally at a pawn shop in Phenix, Alabama, Lafayette police chief Jim Craft told reporters.
"ATF has informed us that the purchase was legal," Craft said, in reference to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency that tracks firearms.
Houser opened fire on Thursday night killing two women and wounding nine more people during a screening of comedy "Trainwreck" at a crowded theater before killing himself.
His online history depicts him as a conspiracy theorist who held Nazi-sympathizing and anti-government views.
Houser's wife had a restraining order filed against him in 2008 and there are reports that he had a historic of psychological problems.
The shooting came almost exactly three years after a 2012 theater massacre in Colorado that left 12 dead and 70 injured.
A Colorado jury is currently considering whether that shooter should be sentenced to death.
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