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Coordinates: 39°42′21″N 104°49′14″W / 39.7059°N 104.8206°W / 39.7059; -104.8206
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→‎Shooting: Not an formal title so should be lower case "T" (theater 8). Existing source CNN doesn't support anything in sentence, so removed. Adding cite from Aurora's local major metro daily (The Denver Post), which uses lower case T.
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Few in the audience considered the perpetrator a threat when he first entered the theater. He appeared to be wearing a costume, which would not have been out of the ordinary as others had dressed up for the movie. Some thought the gunman was playing a [[Practical joke|prank]],<ref name="custom" /> while others thought he was part of a special effects installation set up for the premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or cinema.<ref name="running" />
Few in the audience considered the perpetrator a threat when he first entered the theater. He appeared to be wearing a costume, which would not have been out of the ordinary as others had dressed up for the movie. Some thought the gunman was playing a [[Practical joke|prank]],<ref name="custom" /> while others thought he was part of a special effects installation set up for the premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or cinema.<ref name="running" />


The attack began at approximately 12:38&nbsp;am,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bustillo |first=Miguel |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444464304577538292604705890.html |title=12 Killed in Colorado Theater Shooting - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-23}}</ref> around the time of the first gun scene in the adjacent theater. The masked gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke which partially obscured the audience's sight, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation.<ref>Statement by Chief Dan Oates on Channel 7 News, Denver. Date: July 20, 2012.{{verify source|need URL | date = July 2012}}</ref> He then fired a [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12-gauge]] [[Remington Model 870]] shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a [[Smith & Wesson M&P15]]<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /> [[semi-automatic rifle]] with a 100-round [[drum magazine]], which jammed.<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /><ref name="washpost-jam" /> He then used a [[.40 S&W]] [[Glock]] handgun.<ref name="cbsnews body armor" /><ref name="cbcjuly20" /> A second Glock handgun was found in the suspect's car.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Matt|title=Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-theater-shooting-magazine-20120722,0,4212661.story|accessdate=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> First he shot to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.<ref name="running" /> Some bullets passed through the wall and hit people in the neighboring theater 8, which was screening the same film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Jennifer|title=12 shot dead, 58 wounded in Aurora movie theater during Batman premier|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21124893/12-shot-dead-58-wounded-aurora-movie-theater|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=July 21, 2012}}</ref>
The attack began at approximately 12:38&nbsp;am,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bustillo |first=Miguel |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444464304577538292604705890.html |title=12 Killed in Colorado Theater Shooting - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-23}}</ref> around the time of the first gun scene in the adjacent theater. The masked gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke which partially obscured the audience's sight, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation.<ref>Statement by Chief Dan Oates on Channel 7 News, Denver. Date: July 20, 2012.{{verify source|need URL | date = July 2012}}</ref> He then fired a [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12-gauge]] [[Remington Model 870]] shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a [[Smith & Wesson M&P15]]<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /> [[semi-automatic rifle]] with a 100-round [[drum magazine]], which jammed.<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /><ref name="washpost-jam" /> He then used a [[.40 S&W]] [[Glock]] handgun.<ref name="cbsnews body armor" /><ref name="cbcjuly20" /> A second Glock handgun was found in the suspect's car.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Matt|title=Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-theater-shooting-magazine-20120722,0,4212661.story|accessdate=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> First he shot to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.<ref name="running" /> Some bullets passed through the wall and hit people in the neighboring Theater 8, which was screening the same film.<ref name="cnn120720m" />


The first phone calls to [[9-1-1|emergency services]] were made at 12:39&nbsp;am. The police arrived within 90&nbsp;seconds<ref name="alone1" /> and apprehended a suspect at around 12:45&nbsp;am.<ref name="KABC-timeline" /> The police interviewed over 200 witnesses following the attack.<ref name="Guardian 12 dead" /> Investigators believe that the shooter acted on his own, and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.<ref name="alone1" /> The suspect had bought the guns and ammunition used in the attack legally: the guns at local gun shops, and the ammunition [[Online shopping|online]]<ref name="AP Moreno" />—nearly 7,000 rounds in the 60 days before the shooting.<ref name="auroragov updates" />
The first phone calls to [[9-1-1|emergency services]] were made at 12:39&nbsp;am. The police arrived within 90&nbsp;seconds<ref name="alone1" /> and apprehended a suspect at around 12:45&nbsp;am.<ref name="KABC-timeline" /> The police interviewed over 200 witnesses following the attack.<ref name="Guardian 12 dead" /> Investigators believe that the shooter acted on his own, and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.<ref name="alone1" /> The suspect had bought the guns and ammunition used in the attack legally: the guns at local gun shops, and the ammunition [[Online shopping|online]]<ref name="AP Moreno" />—nearly 7,000 rounds in the 60 days before the shooting.<ref name="auroragov updates" />

Revision as of 08:49, 23 July 2012

2012 Aurora shooting
Location of the shootings
Century 16 at Town Center at Aurora
  • Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Denver and Aurora marked
  • Top: Map of central Aurora
  • Bottom right: Aurora Town Center and the location of the Century 16 cinema
Location14300 E. Alameda Avenue
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.[1]
Coordinates39°42′21″N 104°49′14″W / 39.7059°N 104.8206°W / 39.7059; -104.8206
DateJuly 20, 2012 (2012-07-20)
12:38 am (MDT, UTC-6)
Attack type
Mass murder
Weapons
Deaths12
Injured58[2]

On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting took place during a midnight screening of the movie The Dark Knight Rises at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. A gunman, dressed in protective gear and clothing and wearing a Joker mask, set off smoke or gas canisters and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others. The sole suspect is 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes, who was arrested outside the cinema minutes later.

Shooting

The attack occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 cinema (operated by Cinemark) located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall. The shooter bought a ticket, walked into the theater and then left the building through an emergency exit door, which he propped open. He then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, dressed in protective clothing and retrieved his guns.[5][4] About a half hour into the film, he went back into theater 9 through the exit door dressed in all-black and wearing a gas mask, a load-bearing vest and body armor, including a ballistic helmet, bulletproof leggings, a throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves.[6]

Few in the audience considered the perpetrator a threat when he first entered the theater. He appeared to be wearing a costume, which would not have been out of the ordinary as others had dressed up for the movie. Some thought the gunman was playing a prank,[7] while others thought he was part of a special effects installation set up for the premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or cinema.[8]

The attack began at approximately 12:38 am,[9] around the time of the first gun scene in the adjacent theater. The masked gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke which partially obscured the audience's sight, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation.[10] He then fired a 12-gauge Remington Model 870 shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15[11] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which jammed.[11][12] He then used a .40 S&W Glock handgun.[13][14] A second Glock handgun was found in the suspect's car.[15] First he shot to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.[8] Some bullets passed through the wall and hit people in the neighboring Theater 8, which was screening the same film.[4]

The first phone calls to emergency services were made at 12:39 am. The police arrived within 90 seconds[16] and apprehended a suspect at around 12:45 am.[5] The police interviewed over 200 witnesses following the attack.[17] Investigators believe that the shooter acted on his own, and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.[16] The suspect had bought the guns and ammunition used in the attack legally: the guns at local gun shops, and the ammunition online[18]—nearly 7,000 rounds in the 60 days before the shooting.[19]

The police arrested the suspect behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. The responding officers recovered several guns from inside the car and the theater. According to two federal authorities, the suspect had painted his hair red and called himself "The Joker".[20]

Victims

The shooting injured 70 people, with ten dead at the scene and two in local hospitals. This is the largest number of casualties of a mass shooting in United States history.[21]

The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital, as well as at a makeshift hospital set up at the scene of the attack. Uninjured witnesses were taken to Gateway High School for police interviews. The victims' ages were from three months to 51 years.[22]

The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office listed the killed as Jonathan T. Blunk, 26; Alexander J. Boik, 18; Jesse E. Childress, 29; Gordon Cowden, 51; Jessica Ghawi (Redfield), 24; John T. Larimer, 27; Matthew McQuinn, 27; Micayla Medek, 23; Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6; Alex M. Sullivan, 27; Alexander Teves, 24; and Rebecca Wingo, 32. All were killed by gunshot wounds.[23]

Suspect

Main article: James Eagan Holmes

James Eagan Holmes was born December 13, 1987,[24] and raised in San Diego, California.[25] He was initially an excellent student. Prior to the attack, he was in the process of leaving a neuroscience doctoral program, in which his academic performance had significantly declined.[26] He had no prior criminal record.[27] Media outlets reported that they initially found few digital footprints left by Holmes, other than a university email address and an old Myspace photo.[28]

It was discovered that less than a month before the shooting, Holmes applied for membership at a private gun range. The club owner's calls to Holmes’ apartment reached a Batman-inspired voicemail message.[29]

Holmes was initially jailed at Arapahoe Detention Center, under suicide watch.[30] He is scheduled for an initial advisement hearing on 9:30 a.m MDT July 23 at the courthouse in Centennial, Colorado.[31]

Apartment

Once apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices before heading to the theater.[32] Police then evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, about 5 miles (8 km) north of the cinema.[27] The apartment complex[33] is limited to University of Colorado Medical Center students, patients, and staff members.[34] One day after the shooting, officials disarmed some trip wires and explosive devices in his apartment.[35] This allowed them to create an entry point into the apartment suitable for a human or robot.[36] Among many items found by investigators in his apartment was a Batman mask. Police have finished collecting evidence from the apartment, but residents are still not allowed back into the building because of chemical hazards.[37]

Reactions

President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff, in tribute to the victims, until July 25.[38] Both Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the upcoming presidential election.[39][40] President Obama met with victims and local and state officials on July 22, and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora.[41]

The distributor of The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros. stated that they were deeply saddened by the shooting. They canceled the film's gala premieres in Paris, Mexico, and Japan,[42][43] suspended the marketing campaign for it in Finland,[44][45] and decided to not report box office figures for the movie until Monday July 23, 2012.[46] Other major film studios also did not release early box office numbers on July 21, 2012.[47] Christopher Nolan, the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "devastating."[48] Some television advertisements for the film were canceled.[49] Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop showing a trailer for the film Gangster Squad, which preceded The Dark Knight Rises screenings in some cities, though not in Aurora,[50] because it contained a scene involving the mass shooting of a movie theater audience with automatic weapons.[51][52]

The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site.[53] Some police departments and cinemas across the country[54] increased security after the attack for fear of copycat incidents.[55][56] AMC Theatres announced that it would no longer allow masks or fake weapons.[57]

References

  1. ^ Parker, Ryan; Lee, Kurtis; Ingold, John; Steffen, Jordan; Brown, Jennifer (July 20, 2012). "Family identifies 27-year-old victim of Aurora theater shooting". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  2. ^ Brown, Jennifer (July 21, 2012). "12 shot dead, 58 wounded in Aurora movie theater during Batman premier". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  3. ^ Mosk, Matthew; Ross, Brian; Thomas, Pierre; Esposito, Richard; Chuchmach, Megan (July 20, 2012). "Aurora Suspect James Holmes' Mother: 'You Have the Right Person'". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Carter, Chelsea J.; Pearson, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Gunman turns 'Batman' screening into real-life 'horror film'". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Aurora, Colo theater shooting timeline, facts". KABC-TV. July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  6. ^ Burnett and Fender, Sara and Jessica (July 20, 2012). "Aurora shooting suspect left apartment "booby trapped," music blaring". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  7. ^ Muskal, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Questions, but few answers, in Colorado shooting; 12 dead, dozens hurt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Pilkington, Ed; Williams, Matt (July 20, 2012). "Colorado theater shooting: 12 shot dead during The Dark Knight Rises screening". The Guardian. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  9. ^ Bustillo, Miguel. "12 Killed in Colorado Theater Shooting - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  10. ^ Statement by Chief Dan Oates on Channel 7 News, Denver. Date: July 20, 2012.[verification needed]
  11. ^ a b "Rifle failure that stopped yet more batman carnage". Daily Express. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  12. ^ Fahrenthold, David A. (July 22, 2012). "Colorado shooting spree could have been worse; shooter's gun jammed, official says". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  13. ^ "Police: Suspect wore body armor, used assault rifle, shotgun, Glock handgun in theater attack". CBS News. Associated Press. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  14. ^ "Batman premiere gunman looked like 'assassin ready for war'". CBC News. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  15. ^ Pearce, Matt (July 22, 2012). "Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  16. ^ a b Horwitz, Sari (July 20, 2012). "Police say Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes had 2 pistols, assault rifle, shotgun". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  17. ^ "Aurora shooting: 12 dead as gunman opens fire at movie theater: as it happened". The Guardian. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  18. ^ Moreno, Ivan (July 21, 2012). "Police: Colo. Shooting Suspect Bought Guns Legally". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  19. ^ "Media Updates". auroragov.org. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  20. ^ "Aurora 'Dark Knight' Suspect James Holmes Says He 'Was the Joker': Cops". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  21. ^ Sandell, Clayton; Dolak, Kevin; Curry, Colleen (July 20, 2012). "Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims the Largest Mass Shooting". Good Morning America. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  22. ^ Garcia, Arturo. "Authorities release names of Aurora shooting victims". Raw Story. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  23. ^ Goode, Erica; Frosch, Dan (July 21, 2012). "From a Dark Theater, Tales of Protection and Loss". nytimes.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  24. ^ "Profile: Aurora cinema shooting suspect James Holmes". BBC News Online. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  25. ^ "Who is James Egan Holmes?". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Associated Press. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  26. ^ "Statement from the university on James Holmes | Newsroom | University of Colorado Denver". Ucdenver.edu. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Colo. shooting suspect James Holmes' apartment booby trapped, police say". CBS News. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  28. ^ Stern, Joanna (July 20, 2012). "James Holmes: Colorado Shooting Suspect Had Few Digital Fingerprints". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  29. ^ Winter, Jana. "EXCLUSIVE: Massacre suspect James Holmes' gun-range application drew red flag". FOX News. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  30. ^ Lysiak, Matthew; Arkin, James; Mcshane, Larry (July 21, 2012). "Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes jailed in solitary: 'All the inmates were talking about killing him'". Daily News. New York. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  31. ^ Kass, Jess. "Massacre Suspect Holmes to Appear in Court". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  32. ^ Burnett and Fender, Sara and Jessica (July 20, 2012). "Aurora shooting suspect left apartment "booby trapped," music blaring". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  33. ^ Holden, Will C. (July 20, 2012). "Slideshow: Aurora theater shooting scene, suspect's booby-trapped apartment". KDVR (Fox 31 Denver). Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  34. ^ Sandell, Clayton; Dolak, Kevin; Curry, Colleen (July 20, 2012). "Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: Suspect Bought 4 Guns, 6,000 Rounds of Ammunition in Past 60 Days". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  35. ^ "Authorities disarm trip wire, first explosive device in Colorado movie theater massacre suspect's apartment". Fox News. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  36. ^ "Aurora, Colo. Shooting: Cops may set off suspect's booby traps". CBS News. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  37. ^ FLACCUS and RICCARDI, GILLIAN and NICHOLAS. "Movie massacre suspect mum; Batman mask found". Yahoo News. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  38. ^ Wing, Nick (July 20, 2012). "Obama Colorado Shooting Proclamation: Flags To Be Flown at Half Staff for Victims". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  39. ^ Weiner, Rachel (July 20, 2012). "Obama, Romney pull Colorado ads off air in wake of Aurora shooting". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  40. ^ Nakamura, David (July 20, 2012). "Obama, Romney express condolences for Colorado shooting victims". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  41. ^ Marschall, Rick. "President Barack Obama visits Aurora victims' families and survivors". continentalnews.net. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  42. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (July 20, 2012). "'Dark Knight Rises' Paris premiere scrapped following U.S. shootings". NBC News. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  43. ^ "Warner Bros. cancels 'Dark Knight Rises' premieres in Mexico and Japan". Entertainment Weekly. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  44. ^ "Batman film marketing campaign scaled down in Finland | Yle Uutiset". yle.fi. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  45. ^ Blencowe, Annette (July 20, 2012). "Batman-elokuvan nettikampanja keskeytettiin Suomessa" (in Finnish). yle.fi. Retrieved July 20, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "In Wake of Shooting, 'The Dark Knight Rises' Won't Report Early Box Office Figures". The Wall Street Journal. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  47. ^ "Box office update: Studios not releasing numbers today". Entertainment Weekly. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  48. ^ Morley, Will (July 20, 2012). "Christopher Nolan on theater shooting: 'I would like to express our profound sorrow'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  49. ^ White, Michael; Palmeri, Christopher; Lee, Edmund (July 20, 2012). "Warner Bros. Said to Pull Some TV Ads for 'Dark Knight'". BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  50. ^ Macatee, Rebecca. "Gangster Squad Trailer Yanked From Internet, Dark Knight Rises Following Colorado Shooting". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  51. ^ Bindley, Katherine (July 20, 2012). "'Gangster Squad' Trailer with Theater Shooting Scene Pulled from 'Dark Knight' By Warner Bros. (UPDATED)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  52. ^ Finke, Nikki. "Warner Bros Pulls Trailer of Gangster Shooting Up Movie Theater". Deadline.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  53. ^ Blond, Becka (July 21, 2012). "Tearful vigils remember victims of Aurora massacre". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  54. ^ "Security stepped up nationwide in wake of Colorado movie theater shooting - CNN". Articles.cnn.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  55. ^ "Security stepped up nationwide in wake of Colorado movie theater shooting". CNN. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  56. ^ "Colorado Shooting 2012: Witness Says Gunman Shot Anyone Trying To Leave". The Huffington Post. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  57. ^ "AMC Theatres Statement About Aurora, Co. Incident". AMC Theatres. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.

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