Louisiana shooting: 3 dead as gunman opens fire at movie theatre in Lafayette

At least three people, including the suspect, have died after a gunman opened fire at a cinema hall in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The shooting broke out at about 7pm local time on Thursday 23 July (1am GMT, 24 July) at Grand Theater when Amy Schumer's movie, Trainwreck, was being screened. There were more than 100 people in the audience when the shooting took place.

Clay Henry, vice president of operations for Acadian Ambulance, told the Associated Press that at least 10 people were shot at. Two of them were pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police chief Jim Craft said the "situation is contained" but did not give the number of casualties. The nature of injuries sustained by the victims was also unclear. Police stormed the theatre to "engage the shooter", authorities confirmed.

"It appears the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after discharging his weapon numerous times," added Craft.

Police, citing witness accounts, said the gunman was suspected to be a 58-year-old white male.

"There's nothing to believe that there was any kind of motive," Colonel Michael Edmonson of the Louisiana police told reporters. Authorities said the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun while investigators continued to examine other suspicious items found.

"He [the gunman] wasn't saying anything. I didn't hear anybody screaming either," witness Katie Domingue told the local Advertiser newspaper.

Presidential hopeful and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was on his way to the crime scene.

The shooting came shortly after US President Barack Obama admitted the government's failure to pass strict gun laws.