Teachers hailed as heroes in Louisiana theater shooting
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Two teachers who were inside the movie theater during the Louisiana theater shooting on Thursday night are now being hailed as heroes.
When the gunman opened fire, the two women tried to protect each other. One also managed to reach for the fire alarm to let everyone know there was an emergency in the theater.
CBS News spoke to one of the teacher's former colleagues, Cammie Maturin. She set up a GoFundMe page for the women on behalf of the Iberia Association of Educators. She identifies the women as Jena Meaux and Ali Martin. She describes the teachers as courageous, strong and beautiful. So far the page has raised over $6,000.
"This account is set up to help them defray costs of any medical expenses the insurance will not cover and also any time they may lose as our school year is approaching," she writes on the page.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also Tweeted in reference to the women on Friday morning.
The evil that exists in our world is stunning. But the stories of friends shielding friends from gunfire should give us all hope. (2/3)
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) July 24, 2015
Police said three people, including the shooter, were killed Thursday night in a movie theater in Lafayette, La. during a showing of the movie "Trainwreck." Two died at the scene, including the gunman, and the third in a hospital, Police Chief Jim Kraft said.
Authorities said nine other people were wounded. Seven remained hospitalized Friday.
Authorities were trying to determine if the suspect knew any of his victims, Craft said. Law enforcement officials believe the gunman acted alone.
It appears the gunman fired at random, Kraft said.