USA Today reported on a shooting in a Denver movie theater in which 12 people were killed and nearly 40 others injured. A masked gunman opened fire from the front of the theater at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Police officials said their suspect was a 24-year-old resident of Aurora, Colorado, named James Holmes, who went quietly with police when apprehended after the shooting.
FBI officials were called in when witnesses said the gunman released some sort of gas from a canister he was holding, but a spokesman said there was no evidence of a connection to terrorism. Audience members were a bit confused at first because the shooting happened right as an on-screen gun battle was happening: one witness said they thought it was a joke.
President Obama called the shooting “horrific and tragic” and promised to “bring whoever was responsible to justice.” Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. also released a statement expressing their sorrow and condolences for the incident, saying they would cancel the Paris premiere of the film.
