Someone outside the mall used a cell phone to capture the evacuation of the Aurora, Colo. theater, where a gunman opened fire during a Friday morning showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Caution, some of the images may be disturbing.
Update:
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said the Colorado shooter suspected of opening fire in a suburban Denver movie theater resembled “The Joker”— the archetypal villain from the comic book series—when he attacked. At a news conference on Friday, Kelly said the “deranged” suspect, James Holmes, “had his hair painted red” at the time of the attack and claimed to be “The Joker,” the terrorist played by Heath Ledger in the last Batman film, The Dark Knight. Holmes opened fire during a midnight showing of Christopher Nolan’s sequel, The Dark Knight Rises, killing 12 and injuring dozens more. Moviegoers who survived the attack say the shooter “released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound, and some gas emerged, and the gunman opened fire,” according to Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates. Kelly said the NYPD has stepped up security in New York City movie theaters “as a precaution against copycats” and to ease fears in the wake of the awful Colorado shooting.
Via CBS News:
Ten people were killed inside the theater and two others died at the hospital when a gas mask-wearing gunman stood at the front of the theater and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. local time at a theater in a mall in Aurora, Colo., police said.
A 3-month-old was among those hurt, CBS Denver reported. Police said earlier that 14 people had died, but later said that only 12 fatalities were confirmed.
At a news conference in Colo. Friday, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said a total of 71 people were shot. Of the 59 who were wounded, many are in critical condition, he said.
The suspect, who has been identified as 24-year-old James E. Holmes, who police believe acted alone.
Surviving moviegoers have said that they initially thought that the shooting was part of the premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises."
Police said the gunman had four weapons: two 40-caliber Glock handguns, a Remington 870 single-barrel shotgun and a Smith and Wesson AR-15 assault-style rifle. Three of the weapons were found in the suspect's white Hyundai parked at the back entrance to the theater; one of the handguns was found in the theater.
The University of California-Riverside confirmed that a man named James Holmes graduated from the university with a degree in neuroscience in 2010. His last known address was in San Diego, it said.
The alleged shooter's apartment was rigged with multiple incendiary and explosive devices and trip wires. " At least five buildings in the area have been evacuated, and an FBI agent on the scene has said that the "sophistication" of the devices was "disturbing," and it may be some time before the area can be secured.
Updates will continue as information becomes available.
Earlier:
At least 14 people were killed and 50 were wounded when a gunman opened fire during an early Friday morning screening of the new Batman movie at an Aurora, Colorado, theater, Police Chief Dan Oates told reporters.
The man suspected of opening fire on the crowded theater was taken into custody, Oates said.
The identity of the suspect has not immediately been released.
Developing...
Another short update: Channel 9 news in Denver now reports that the youngest victim taken to an area hospital is just 6 years old.
Edit: 15 now confirmed dead.
Edit: Correction, all news outlets are reporting 14 again.
Channel 9 reports that President Obama has been notified, so we will probably be hearing from him at some point today.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone there in Colorado.
