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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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* Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Denver and Aurora marked
* Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Denver and Aurora marked
* Top: Map of central Aurora
* Top: Map of central Aurora
* Bottom right: Aurora Town Center and the location of the Century 16 cinema
* Bottom right: Aurora Town Center and the location of the Century 16
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| location = 14300 E. Alameda Avenue <br /> [[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.<ref name="dp120720a" />
| location = 14300 E. Alameda Avenue <br /> [[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.<ref name="dp120720a" />

Revision as of 00:14, 25 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 Multiplex
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
Date00:38, July 20, 2012 (-06:00) (2012-07-20T00:38-06:00)
Attack type
Mass murder
Weapons
Deaths12
Injured58[2]

On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, United States. A gunman, dressed in protective gear and clothing, set off tear gas grenades 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 shooting occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark), located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall.[2] The shooter allegedly bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row. About 20 minutes into the film, it is alleged, he 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, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.[3][4] About a half hour into the film, around 12:38 am,[5] he re-entered the theater through the exit door. He was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest, a ballistic helmet, bullet resistant leggings, a throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves.[6]

Initially, few in the audience considered the masked figure a threat. He appeared to be wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed that the gunman was playing a prank,[7] while others thought that he was part of a special effects installation set up for the film's premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.[8]

The gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke, partially obscuring the audience members' vision, making their throats and skin itch, and causing eye irritation.[9] 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[10] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which malfunctioned.[10][11] Finally, he fired a .40 S&W Glock handgun.[12][13] He shot first 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 movie.[2] According to witness accounts, at some point soon after the attack began, the multiplex' fire alarm system began sounding and theater staff told people in the adjacent theater 8 to evacuate.[14] Exemplifying the apparent confusion, one witness stated that they were hesitant to leave because someone eventually yelled that there was someone shooting in the lobby and that they shouldn't leave.[15]

The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39 am. Police arrived within 90 seconds[16] and found at least three .40-caliber magazines, a shotgun and a large drum magazine on the floor.[17]

The police apprehended James Eagan Holmes at about 12:45 am[4] behind the movie theater, next to his car, without resistance. According to two federal officials, Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker,"[18] though authorities later declined to confirm this. (Holmes was seen with bright orange hair in his first court appearance.)[19] The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside Holmes' car, including a second Glock handgun.[20] Following his arrest, Holmes was initially jailed at Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch.[21]

The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses after the attack.[22] Investigators believe that Holmes acted alone and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.[16] Holmes had bought the guns and ammunition used in the attack legally: the guns at local gun shops and the ammunition online.[23][24] He had purchased nearly 6,000 rounds of ammunition in the 60 days before the shooting.[25]

Victims

Seventy people were shot or otherwise wounded, the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history.[26] Ten died at the scene and two died in local hospitals. The dead ranged in age from 6 to 51 years.[27]

Those killed were:

  • Jonathan Blunk, aged 26;
  • Alexander J. Boik, 18;
  • Jesse Childress, 29;
  • Gordon Cowden, 51;
  • Jessica Ghawi, 24;
  • John Larimer, 27;
  • Matt McQuinn, 27;
  • Micayla Medek, 23;
  • Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6;
  • Alex Sullivan, 27;
  • Alexander C. Teves, 24; and
  • Rebecca Wingo, 32.[28]

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.

Suspect

Main article: James Eagan Holmes

The sole suspect is James Eagan Holmes, who was born on December 13, 1987,[29] and raised in San Diego, California.[30]

Holmes had no criminal record before the shooting.[31] The media reported that they had found few digital footprints left by Holmes, other than a university e-mail address and an old Myspace photo.[32]

Less than a month before the shooting, Holmes applied for membership at a private gun range, although he did not follow up and visit. The club owner's calls to Holmes' apartment were answered by an allegedly strange recorded message.[33]

Holmes had reportedly taken Vicodin about two-and-a-half hours before the shooting; sources vary on the amount. [34][35]

Apartment

When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices before heading to the theater.[6] Police then evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, about 5 miles (8 km) north of the movie theater.[31] The apartment complex[36] is limited to University of Colorado Medical Center students, patients, and employees.[37] One day after the shooting, officials disarmed some trip wires and explosive devices in Holmes' apartment.[38] This allowed them to create an entry point suitable for a human or robot.[39] A law enforcement official said that a Batman mask was found inside the apartment.[40] Police finished collecting evidence from the apartment,[when?] but as of July 23, residents were still not allowed back into the building because of chemical hazards.[41]

Court appearance

On July 23, 2012, Holmes, still with reddish-orange hair, made his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado,[42] before Judge William B. Sylvester.[43] He was read his rights[44] and no bail was given.[42] The judge issued a mandatory protection order[45] and appointed a public defender.[44] Formal charges were scheduled to be filed on July 30, 2012.[44][45][needs update] Holmes said nothing and did not look at the judge, only forward or down at the papers describing his rights.[43] He was described as looking dazed, sleepy and confused.[42]

Prosecutors are considering whether to pursue the death penalty.[42]

Reactions

By authorities

President Barack Obama visiting shooting victims at University of Colorado Hospital on July 22, 2012

President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff, in tribute to the victims, until July 25.[46] Both Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the upcoming presidential election.[47][48] On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora.[49][50][51][52][53]

Some police departments and movie theaters across the country increased security after the attack for fear of copycat incidents.[54][55]

In Colorado

The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site.[56]

Sales of guns increased significantly in Colorado after the shooting.[57]

By the film industry

Warner Bros., the distributor of The Dark Knight Rises, stated that it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in Paris, Mexico, and Japan,[58][59] suspended its marketing campaign in Finland,[60][61] and decided to not report box office figures for the movie until July 23, 2012.[62] Other major film studios also did not release early box office numbers on July 21, 2012.[63] Warner Bros. stated it would be providing a "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to aid the victims of the shooting.[64] Christopher Nolan, the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating".[65] Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film series, visited victims on July 24th.[66]

Some television advertisements for the film were canceled.[67] 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,[68] because it contained a scene involving the mass shooting of a movie theater audience with automatic weapons.[69][70]

AMC Theatres announced that it would no longer allow masks or fake weapons.[71]

See also

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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Carter, Chelsea J.; Pearson, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Gunman turns 'Batman' screening into real-life 'horror film'". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Aurora, Colo theater shooting timeline, facts". KABC-TV. July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  5. ^ Bustillo, Miguel; Banjo, Shelly; Audi, Tamara (July 21, 2012). "Theater Rampage Jolts Nation". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Burnett, Sara; Fender, 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. ^ Statement by Chief Dan Oates on Channel 7 News, Denver. Date: July 20, 2012. [verification needed]
  10. ^ a b "Rifle failure that stopped yet more batman carnage". Daily Express. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Batman premiere gunman looked like 'assassin ready for war'". CBC News. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  14. ^ Kent, William (July 20, 2012). "Aurora witnesses describe shooter's entrance, chaos". CBS This Morning. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  15. ^ Marshall, Jaime (July 20, 2012). "Witness stories from Aurora movie theater shooting". Coloradoan. Retrieved July 24, 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. ^ Kane, Arthur; Ferrugia, John (July 21, 2012). "Sources: Shooter Took Prescription Drug Before Attack". ABC News 7 Denver. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  18. ^ "Aurora 'Dark Knight' Suspect James Holmes Says He 'Was the Joker': Cops". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  19. ^ Banda, P. Solomon; Riccardi, Nicholas (July 23, 2012). "Shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair". Associated Press. Retrieved July 23, 2012. [verification needed]
  20. ^ Pearce, Matt (July 22, 2012). "Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Aurora shooting: 12 dead as gunman opens fire at movie theater: as it happened". The Guardian. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  23. ^ Moreno, Ivan (July 21, 2012). "Police: Colo. Shooting Suspect Bought Guns Legally". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  24. ^ Healy, Jack (July 22, 2012). "Suspect Bought Large Stockpile of Rounds Online". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  25. ^ "Media Updates". auroragov.org. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ Garcia, Arturo. "Authorities release names of Aurora shooting victims". Raw Story. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  28. ^ Peipert, Thomas. "A look at the Lives of Colorado shooting victims". Brandenton Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  29. ^ "Profile: Aurora cinema shooting suspect James Holmes". BBC News Online. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  30. ^ "Who is James Egan Holmes?". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Associated Press. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  31. ^ a b "Colo. shooting suspect James Holmes' apartment booby trapped, police say". CBS News. Associated Press. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  32. ^ Stern, Joanna (July 20, 2012). "James Holmes: Colorado Shooting Suspect Had Few Digital Fingerprints". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  33. ^ Winter, Jana (July 22, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Massacre suspect James Holmes' gun-range application drew red flag". Fox News. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  34. ^ Hendrick, Thomas (July 21, 2012). "Investigators Still Processing Scene Of Mass Shooting". KMGH-TV. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  35. ^ Kane, Arthur; Ferrugia, John (July 20, 2012). "James Holmes, Aurora shooting suspect, not cooperating with investigators". ABC 15 Arizona. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  36. ^ Holden, Will C. (July 20, 2012). "Slideshow: Aurora theater shooting scene, suspect's booby-trapped apartment". KDVR (Fox 31 Denver). Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ "Authorities disarm trip wire, first explosive device in Colorado movie theater massacre suspect's apartment". Fox News. July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.[verification needed]
  39. ^ "Aurora, Colo. Shooting: Cops may set off suspect's booby traps". CBS News. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  40. ^ Johnson, M. Alex (July 23, 2012). "Theater massacre suspect appears in Colorado courtroom". NBC News. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  41. ^ Flaccus, Gillian; Riccardi, Nicholas (July 23, 2012). "Movie massacre suspect mum; Batman mask found". Yahoo News. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  42. ^ a b c d "Aurora shooting: Suspect James Holmes appears in court". BBC News Online. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  43. ^ a b "Death penalty decision months away, DA says". CNN. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  44. ^ a b c Jack Healy (July 23, 2012). "Suspect in Colorado Theater Shooting Appears in Court". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ a b Ingold, John; Fender, Jessica (July 23, 2012). "mercurynews.com". mercurynews.com. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  46. ^ 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.
  47. ^ Weiner, Rachel (July 20, 2012). "Obama, Romney pull Colorado ads off air in wake of Aurora shooting". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  48. ^ Nakamura, David (July 20, 2012). "Obama, Romney express condolences for Colorado shooting victims". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  49. ^ "Aurora shooting: Obama says all US stands with victim". BBC News Online. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  50. ^ Fords, Dana (July 23, 2012). "'Words are ... inadequate,' Obama tells families of Colorado shooting victims". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  51. ^ Eligon, John; Kovaleski, Serge F.; Santora, Marc (July 22, 2012). "Obama Consoles Aurora as City Begins Healing". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  52. ^ McNakamura, David (July 23, 2012). "After Aurora shootings, Obama again takes on role as healer in chief in Colorado". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  53. ^ Marschall, Rick (July 23, 2012). "President Barack Obama visits Aurora victims' families and survivors". continentalnews.net. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  54. ^ "Security stepped up nationwide in wake of Colorado movie theater shooting". CNN. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  55. ^ "Colorado Shooting 2012: Witness Says Gunman Shot Anyone Trying To Leave". The Huffington Post. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  56. ^ Blond, Becka (July 21, 2012). "Tearful vigils remember victims of Aurora massacre". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  57. ^ Burnett, Sara (July 23, 2012). "Aurora theater shooting: Gun sales up since tragedy". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  58. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (July 20, 2012). "'Dark Knight Rises' Paris premiere scrapped following U.S. shootings". NBC News. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  59. ^ "Warner Bros. cancels 'Dark Knight Rises' premieres in Mexico and Japan". Entertainment Weekly. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  60. ^ "Batman film marketing campaign scaled down in Finland". Yle Uutiset. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  61. ^ 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)
  62. ^ "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.
  63. ^ "Box office update: Studios not releasing numbers today". Entertainment Weekly. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  64. ^ Belloni, Matthew (July 23, 2012). "Warner Bros. to Make 'Substantial' Donation to Colorado Shooting Victims". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  65. ^ Morley, Will (July 20, 2012). "Christopher Nolan on theater shooting: 'I would like to express our profound sorrow'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  66. ^ Malkin, Marc. "Dark Knight Rises Shooting: Christian Bale Visits Victims in Hospital". E! News. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  67. ^ White, Michael; Palmeri, Christopher; Lee, Edmund (July 20, 2012). "Warner Bros. Said to Pull Some TV Ads for 'Dark Knight'". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  68. ^ Macatee, Rebecca. "Gangster Squad Trailer Yanked From Internet, Dark Knight Rises Following Colorado Shooting". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  69. ^ 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.
  70. ^ Finke, Nikki. "Warner Bros Pulls Trailer of Gangster Shooting Up Movie Theater". Deadline.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  71. ^ "AMC Theatres Statement About Aurora, Co. Incident". AMC Theatres. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.

Maps of crime scene

Raw audio

Collections of news articles and videos

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