An as yet unidentified, heavily armed gunman opened fire at an Aurora, Colorado midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. As of this report there are a dozen confirmed dead and many more injured, including a 3-month-old-baby.
Multiple sources have stated that the 24-year-old white male suspect had multiple weapons and was wearing a bulletproof vest as he entered the theater complex. He was masked and wearing black clothing as he first set off tear gas and then opened fire. He was apprehended in the rear of the theater near his vehicle. He did not resist arrest.
UPDATE: According to CBS the gunman has been identified as James Holmes. We have the first official photo to surface of Holmes here.
Here is a cellphone video taken of the chaos that ensued following this horrific act:
Witnesses have been describing the nightmarish scene. 18-year-old Abenezer Mergia said:
“They were just expecting everybody to get to their car and just get out. Everybody that was hurt – there was blood everywhere. It was crazy.”
A former member of the military, Darrell Wilmoth, highlighted the fact that the theater was filled with mostly younger people:
“The sad part is the majority of the theater was kids. It was just, crazy,” he said. “My concern was just, getting those kids that were injured up to the ambulances. And praying. That’s what I’m doing now, praying for those kids that were injured.”
President Obama released an official statement:
Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.
All indications are that this gunman acted alone.
