Judd Apatow: Lafayette theater shooting 'devastates me'

'We, as a country, need to find a way to do better.'

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Published on July 24, 2015 06:11PM EDT

Following the shooting death of two women at a screening of Trainwreck in Lafayette, Louisiana on Thursday night, director Judd Apatow has offered his condolences to the victims.

“One of the reasons we make these movies is because the world can be so horrifying and we all need to laugh just to deal with it,” Apatow said in a statement provided to EW. “So to have this happen in a room where people were smiling and laughing devastates me. My thoughts and love go out to the victims and anyone touched by this madness or any madness. We, as a country, need to find a way to do better.”

Police identified the deceased victims as Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33. Nine other people were injured in the shooting, which took place during a 7 p.m. showing of Trainwreck at The Grand Theatre in Lafayette.

“All of us at Universal Pictures send our heartfelt sympathies to the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families in Louisiana,” Universal Pictures, which released the film, said in a statement on Friday.

Previously, Trainwreck star Amy Schumer had tweeted her sorrow over the murders, writing, “My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.”

According to police, the shooter — who was identified as 59-year-old John Russell Houser — fired 13 rounds in the theater from a 40-caliber gun. After his attempts to escape were thwarted by the presence of local police, Houser shot himself to death inside the theater.

•Lafayette movie theater shooting during ‘Trainwreck’ screening leaves 3 dead