The Dark Knight Rises Shooting: 14 Dead At Batman Screening

The city of Aurora, Colorado (in the Denver Metropolitan Area) has been devastated by a mass shooting which took place during one of the premiere screenings of The Dark Knight Rises, the new Batman film directed by Christopher Nolan. A report from CBS reveals that cinema-goers were taken by surprise by the gunman, when he opened a canister of tear gas in the movie theatre, before opening fire. According to The Guardian today (July 20, 2012), 14 people were killed in the attack and at least 50 people have been injured.

A briefing from the local police chief confirms that a 24 year-old man has been arrested for the shootings and was being detained in police custody. A segment of his statement reveals where they caught the suspect, as well as further concerns that they have regarding his activities: "As of now we only know of one gunman. officers responded and found the gunman in the back of the theatre outside in the parking lot in his car in possession of a gas mask and at least a rifle and a hand gun." He added "The suspect is in custody and made statements about possible explosives in his residence. At this time there is a residence in a North Aurora apartment building which has been evacuated and we are searching for explosives inside there. We are also concerned about explosives in the parking lot as it is [currently] sealed off."

The local Denver station Channel 9 has broadcast some hand-held footage, apparently from someone who had been inside the movie theatre, showing the chaos that ensued after the shooting, with people leaving the scene of the crime, some obviously wounded and some small children dressed as Batman were being escorted from the cinema. The Denver Childrens Hospital has reported that the youngest person they are treating for bullet wounds is just six years old.