AURORA, Colo. – A gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire early Friday at a suburban Denver theater at the opening of the Batman movie The D...
The gunman, who is in custody, stood at the front of the theater and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. MT at a multiplex theater in a mall in Aurora, police said.
Federal law enforcement officials, who declined to be named because they are not authorized to discuss the case, identified the suspect as James Holmes, 24.
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Aurora police said the suspect, an Aurora resident, offered no resistance when he was arrested at the rear of the theater. Police said he had a rifle, handgun and gas mask when he was arrested. Another gun was found in his car.
"Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said at a news conference.
FBI spokesman Jason Pack said there's no indication in the investigation so far of any connection to terrorism.
Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania, on ABC's Good Morning America. said he didn't know yet if all the injuries were gunshot wounds. He said some might have been caused by other things such as shrapnel.
Police, ambulances and emergency crews swarmed on the scene after frantic calls started flooding the 911 switchboard, officials said.
A police officers could be heard over a police scanner yelling "Get us some damn gas masks for theater 9, we can't get in."
Officers came running in and telling people to leave the theater, Salina Jordan told the Denver Post. She said some police were carrying and dragging bodies.
Oates said there's no evidence of any other attackers. There was also no immediate word of any motive.
The suspect spoke of "possible explosives in his residence. We are dealing with that potential threat," Oates said
Police were at the Denver-area apartment and had evacuated other residents of the building. Oates did not say whether any explosives had been found.
He said police also checked for explosives in the parking lot and at the Century 16 theater and secured those areas.
President Obama said he was saddened by the "horrific and tragic shooting," pledging that his administration was "committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded."
Obama canceled campaign stops in Florida and was returning to Washington.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said "We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice. Our hearts and prayers go out to anyone impacted by this tragedy, especially the family and friends of thos killed or injured."
Moviegoers spoke of their terror as violence erupted and people around them fell victim.
Benjamin Fernandez, 30, told the Post that he heard a series of explosions. He said that people ran from the theater and there were gunshots as police shouted "get down!"
Fernandez said he saw people falling, including one young girl.
Jordan told the paper that one girl was struck in cheek, others in stomach including a girl who looked to be around 9-years-old.
Jordan said it sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into Theater 8 yelling "they're shooting out here!"
Hayden Miller told KUSA-TV that he heard several shots.
"Like little explosions going on and shortly after that we heard people screaming," he told the station.
Hayden said at first he thought it was part of a louder movie next door. But then he saw "people hunched over leaving theater."
Some people in the audience thought the thick smoke and gunfire was a special effect accompanying the movie, police and witnesses said.
"We just heard a pop, pop, pop, pop," Quentin Caldwell, who was attending the Batman showing in an adjacent theater, told CNN.
Victims were transported to at least six area hospitals. Many were rushed immediately to hospitals in police cars by responding officers. The injured and dead include a wide age range.
The police chief said 10 victims died at the theater and two at area hospitals.
KUSA reported that some hospitalized victims were being treated for chemical exposure, related apparently to canister thrown by gunman.
Eleven people were being treated at the Medical Center of Aurora for gunshots and ranged from minor to critical condition. Two others walked in to be treated for tear gas contamination.
Denver Health had seven victims — one in critical and the rest in fair condition.
The youngest victim, a 3-month-old infant, was treated and released from the hospital, according to KUSA. Six victims being treated at Children's Hospital Colorado. Their condition wasn't known.
Two people in critical condition were rushed to nearby Swedish Medical Center, spokeswoman Nicole Williams said.
At the Gateway High School, which officials were using as a staging area, witnesses were provided mental health counseling through the Red Cross while they waited to talk to investigators.
Father Michael Borgstede of the nearby Mount Olive Lutheran Church said victims and witnesses need a "listening ear" right now.
Borgstede says he walked over to the school to provide whatever counsel he could. "I'm just hoping to sit with them and pray," he said.
Eric Soto, 42, who was at the school, said his son was at the midnight showing with friends but in a different theater. "He called me about 12:30 and said 'come pick me up dad, come pick me up.' I could tell he was nervous," Soto said.
Soto said his son, Joseph, 18, was unhurt, and initially thought the smoke and noise was part of a show associated with the movie.
"He said it sounded like firecrackers," Soto said, standing outside the school while his son was interviewed by investigators.
Aurora is on Denver's east side and is Colorado's third-largest city with 327,000 residents. It is home to a large Defense Department satellite intelligence operation at Buckley Air Force Base, as well as The Children's Hospital, the University of Colorado Hospital and a future Veterans Affairs hospital.
Officials scrambled to use social media to get word out about the shooting.
"We certainly appreciate the nation's thoughts and prayers as our police department continues to investigate the terrible theater shooting tragedy that occurred today," said a statement posted on the city's Facebook. "Our condolences go out to the victims and their family members."
The Red Cross used Twitter to urge people who were in the theater to use social media to alert friends and family that they are safe. Spokesman Patricia Billinger recommended that area residents update their Facebook and other social media accounts to let their friends know they are safe.
Billinger said that with all the uncertainty about who was at what showing of the popular movie, taking that extra step will help reassure family and friends.
"People don't know how close you were, so help alleviate that anxiety," she said.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. released a statement that said "Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time."
The company canceled the Paris premiere of the movie saying it would be inappropriate in light of the tragedy. New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the department plans to provide extra security at theaters in the five boroughs showing the new movie.
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