2012 Aurora theater shooting
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| 2012 Aurora shootings | |
|---|---|
| Location | Aurora, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°42′21″N 104°49′14″W / 39.7059°N 104.8206°W |
| Date | July 20, 2012 |
Attack type | Mass murder |
| Deaths | 10 died at the scene 2 died in hospital |
| Injured | 50 |
| Motive | Unknown |
On July 20, 2012, a gunman in a gas mask opened fire during a 12:30 a.m. showing of the film The Dark Knight Rises in Theater Nine at the Century 16 movie theater in the Town Center at Aurora shopping center in Aurora, Colorado in the United States. He set off a smoke grenade in the theater before he began shooting, killing 12 people and injuring 50.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Shooting
Media reported that the shooter walked into the emergency exit of Theater Nine, threw "some kind of canister"[8] and began to fire. Some bullets penetrated the wall of the cinema and injured people in the adjoining Theater Eight, where the same film was being screened.[9]
Victims
Ten people died at the scene, and two people were pronounced dead in local hospitals.[3]
Injured people were treated at Children's Hospital, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital, as well as at a makeshift hospital set up at the scene of the attack.[10] Uninjured witnesses were transported to Gateway High School for de-briefing. The victims' ages ranged from 3 months to 31 years, with the 3-month-old being treated at University Hospital.[11][10]
According to CBS This Morning, the youngest victim was a 3-month-old baby.
Suspect
The alleged shooter has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes[1] who is currently in police custody.[12]
The suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest and gas mask at the time of the shooting. He was found by his car in the theater parking lot with a rifle, shotgun, and handgun, and he did not resist arrest.[13] Once apprehended, the suspect told authorities about explosives in his residence in North Aurora.[14] Chief Dan Oates of Aurora Police Department said in a television interview that police were treating the shooter's home near 17th Avenue and Paris Street, five miles from the shooting, (map) as a site where explosives might be present.[15]
Reaction
U.S. President Barack Obama called the shooting "horrible and tragic". He said: "We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded".[16]
The Republican candidate for President, Mitt Romney, said that he and his wife were "deeply saddened" by the shooting.[17]
References
- ^ a b Thomas, Pierre; et al. (July 20, 2012). "Aurora 'Dark Knight' Shooting Suspect Identified: James Holmes". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|last2=(help) - ^ 12 killed, dozens wounded at Aurora movie theater Denver Post, 20 July 2012.
- ^ a b Carter, Chelsea J (July 20, 2012). "At least 20 wounded in shooting at Colorado movie theater, official says". CNN.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "BBC News - Batman US cinema shooting: Fourteen dead in Denver". BBC. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "At least 14 confirmed killed at Dark Knight Rises premiere shooting in Colorado movie theater — RT". RT (TV network). Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "Fourteen killed in Denver movie theater shooting". Reuters. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "14 dead, at least 50 injured in shooting at Colorado movie theater, police say". Fox News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ 12 killed, dozens wounded at Aurora movie theater Denver Post, 20 July 2012.
- ^ "14 dead, 50 wounded in shooting at Colorado theater, police chief says". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ a b "Fourteen shot dead at Batman film premiere". Sky News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ Mata, Ariel; Shiff, Blair (July 20, 2012). "1 in custody, 14 dead in Aurora movie theater shooting". 9news.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "Shooting at Batman premiere in Denver". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "Shooting Rampage at Dark Knight Rises Showing in Colo.; 14 Dead=[[TIME]]". Retrieved July 20, 2012.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ Sandall, Clayton; Dolak, Kevin (July 20, 2012). "Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 14 People Dead". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ Channel 7 News, Denver. Date: 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Obama: Colorado shooting is 'horrific and tragic'". USA Today. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-romney-express-condolences-for-colorado-shooting-victims/2012/07/20/gJQA2IojxW_story.html