AURORA, COLO.—A gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire early Friday at a suburban Denver movie theatre on the opening night of the latest Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises,” killing 12 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said.
The gunman, who is in custody, stood at the front of the theatre and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. MDT at a theatre at a multiplex theatre in a mall in Aurora.
“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.
Police, ambulances and emergency crews swarmed on the scene after frantic calls started flooding the 911 switchboard, officials said.
Officers found the gunman near a car behind the theatre.
Police have identified the suspect as James Holmes, 24. There was no immediate word of any motive.
When the suspect was arrested, police recovered one rifle, one handgun and a gas mask. A third gun is still inside the theatre, police said in a statement.
The suspect spoke of “possible explosives in his residence,” Oates said. Police used a crane to hoist themselves up to an apartment window on the third floor at the top of the brick complex and break in.
He said police also checked for explosives in the parking lot and at the Century 16 theatre and secured those areas.
Police spokesman Frank Fania said the suspect was carrying a knife, a rifle and a handgun when arrested, and one other gun is still in the theatre. The gunman was also wearing a bulletproof vest.
“He did not resist, he did not put up a fight,” Fania said. The suspect's apartment building has been evacuated.
Salina Jordan, 19, was in Theater 8 and saw people hit in her theatre. She told the Denver Post one girl was struck in the cheek, others in the 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!”
The police came running in, telling people to run out. Some police were carrying or dragging bodies, she said.
Witness Hayden Miller told KUSA-TV that he was inside Theater 16 and 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 theatre.”
Moviegoers didn't know what was happening and some thought the attack was part of the show. Then they saw a silhouette of a person in the smoke at the front of the theatre near the screen, pointing a gun at the crowd.
“I told my friend 'we've got to get out of here,' but then he shot people trying to go out the exits,” Jennifer Seeger told NBC's “Today.” She said the shooter made his way up the aisle, shooting as he went, saying nothing.
Another witness told CNN: “We heard anywhere from 10 to 20 shots and little explosions going on. Shortly after that we heard people screaming. Then they came on PA system and said everyone needed to get out.
“As soon as we got out, there were people running around and screaming.”
Another witness said the gunman opened fire during a shoot-out scene in the movie, leading to confusion. The theatre also filled with thick smoke, he said.
The police chief said 10 victims died at the theatre and two at area hospitals.
Two people in critical condition were rushed to nearby Swedish Medical Center, spokeswoman Nicole Williams said.
She said emergency crews told her staff to prepare for several more patients from the shooting scene.
Nine people were in critical condition at University Hospital, TV station KCNC reported. Many were in surgery.
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 reported was a 6-year-old being treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where a total of six victims were taken. Their condition wasn’t known.
U.S. President Barack Obama said he was “shocked and saddened” by the massacre.
“We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family,” Obama said in a statement.
Aurora is located on the southeast outskirts of Denver, about 16 kilometres from downtown.
With files from Reuters
Video: Witness recalls the theatre shooting:
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