At least 12 people have been killed and up to 50 injured after a mass
shooting at a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at a suburban Denver
movie theater, police say.
At least 12 dead and 50 injured after gunman opens fire during showing of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ at Aurora, Colo., theater. Police say they have a suspect in custody, identified as James Holmes, 24, who witnesses say was armed with a rifle and handguns, and who wore a bullet-proof vest and gas mask.
The suspect, identified by federal law enforcement officials as James Holmes, 24, is in police custody. KUSA reports that Holmes kicked down an emergency door at the theater, threw in some type of a smoke bomb and began shooting when moviegoers started to run.
Witnesses say they heard a series of explosions and up to 20 gunshots after the scene grew chaotic. About 100 witnesses were taken to a local high school to be questioned by police.
Police, ambulances and emergency crews swarmed on the Aurora, Colo., theater after frantic 911 calls around 12:30 a.m. local time, officials said.
Holmes reportedly fired shots inside the theater and fled to the parking lot and was confronted by police already at the theater for crowd control.
Holmes wore a bulletproof vest, police said, and was carrying a rifle and two handguns. The handguns may have been placed in the theater before the shooting.
FBI spokesman Jason Pack said there’s no indication in the investigation so far of any connection to terrorism.