John Russell “Rusty” Houser was born on November 22, 1955, in Columbus, Georgia. Described as a drifter, he graduated from Columbus High School (1973) and later attended Columbus State University and Columbus Technical College. Over the years, he owned several bars in Georgia—including one called Rusty’s Buckhead Pub—and briefly attended law school before dropping out.

Houser's past was marred by legal and mental health issues: he was arrested for arson in 1989, accused of domestic violence in 2005, and prosecuted multiple times for selling alcohol to minors between 1999 and 2001—losing his license. In 2008, his wife and family secured a protective order and he was evaluated for mental instability, reportedly suffering from bipolar disorder. In February 2014, he legally bought a .40-caliber handgun at a pawn shop in Phenix City, Alabama.

By early July 2015, he was staying in a Motel 6 near Lafayette, Louisiana. Behavioral red flags emerged: he visited that theater and others, wore disguises, and switched license plates—signs of premeditation.

On the evening of July 23, 2015, John Russell “Rusty” Houser attended the 7:10 pm Trainwreck screening at the Grand 16 theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, buying a ticket about ten minutes after the film began. He entered alone and sat in the second-to-last row of Theater 14, among approximately 25 patrons in the theater and around 300 people in the building.

At approximately 7:30 pm, Houser stood, drew a Hi‑Point .40‑caliber handgun, and began firing into the audience while descending the aisles. He discharged at least 13 rounds, then reloaded before resuming fire. His victims included Mayci Breaux (21), a radiology student, and Jillian Johnson (33), a local artist and musician—Breaux died at the scene, while Johnson died later at the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds.

Amid chaos, panicked patrons fled—some collapsing in corridors—and one teacher heroically pulled the fire alarm while another threw herself in front of a friend to shield her from bullets. Others desperately sought exits, and emergency responders arrived within minutes after the initial 7:28 pm 911 call.

After firing the bulk of his rounds, Houser exited through a side door and headed toward his parked 1995 Lincoln Continental. He attempted to blend in with fleeing crowds, but once he heard sirens, he returned to the theater entrance, firing three additional shots at those escaping before finally turning the gun on himself—dying of a self-inflicted wound when police stormed the building about two to three minutes later.

A bomb squad arrived after first responders spotted suspicious packages in his vehicle and theater; the items were destroyed or examined robotically and later ruled harmless . In his nearby motel room and car, police recovered wigs, multiple sets of glasses, switched license plates, and personal belongings—indicating a plan for evasion.

Authorities also found a 39-page journal belonging to Houser, in which he recorded the theater name, time, date, and various cryptic notes, although it gave no explicit motive. Witnesses said he appeared calm as he executed the attack—walking methodically through the theater and not shouting or reacting—suggesting premeditation.