In an absolutely terrifying and tragic story, 12 people are dead and at least 50 are injured after a gunman entered a screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, threw a tear gas canister and began opening fire on the audience. From ABC News:
The suspect, James Holmes, 24, of Aurora, was caught by police in the parking lot of the Century 16 Movie Theaters, nine miles outside Denver, after police began receiving dozens of 911 calls at 12:39 a.m. MT. Police said the man appeared to have acted alone.
Witnesses in the movie theater said Holmes crashed into the auditorium through an emergency exit about 30 minutes into the film, set off a smoke bomb, and began shooting. Holmes stalked the aisles of the theater, shooting people at random, as panicked movie-watchers in the packed auditorium tried to escape, witnesses said.
“You just smelled smoke and you just kept hearing it, you just heard bam bam bam, non-stop. The gunman never had to reload. Shots just kept going, kept going, kept going,” one witness told ABC News.
“I’m with coworkers and we’re on the floor praying to God we don’t get shot, and the gunshots continue on and on, and when the sound finally stopped, we started to get up and people were just bleeding,” another theatergoer said.
CNN is reporting that a 3-month-old was among those shot, as well as a 9-year-old. Also:
Warner Bros., the studio behind the movie, said the company and filmmakers were “deeply saddened” to learn of the incident. The studio canceled the movie’s Paris premiere, while New York police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said his officers would watch over screenings of “The Dark Knight” to prevent copycat shootings.
According to the New York Times, the suspect Holmes told police that he had explosives in his apartment, which authorities are currently investigating. Also:
A witness told CNN affiliate KUSA that he was in one of the other theaters showing the movie. “It’s crazy to think I could have been in the other line,” he said.
“We were watching a scene of the movie — it was a shootout scene, there were guns firing,” he said. “Then loud bangs came from the right of the theater. Smoke took over the entire theater, and it was really thick and no one could really see anything. Me and my sister were sitting there wondering what was going on. Five people were limping, wounded, slightly bloody.”
“I saw a girl who was pretty much covered in blood. It made me think the worst,” the man said. “A cop came walking through the front door before everyone was cleared up and before everything was completely under control holding a little girl in his arms, and she wasn’t moving.”
More to come.
In before “WHY WAS A BABY THERE”
I agree tch. Why WAS a baby in a movie theater? Also, this dude is a fucking coward. Opening up on unarmed citizens is just plain chicken shit. Burn in hell.
Look. I normally could give a FUCK if someone dislikes my comments. But this time? Really? So you’re advocating mass murder including some child victims? I know I have my opinions about stuff but fuck’s sake, man. Priorities. If you really advocate this shit, you’re a fucking coward yourself. If not, you’re just desperately swinging at me because I choose to vote for civil unions over gay marriage? Really? That is the only thing that has polarized those who follow my comments. Get a fucking life, loser. You know who you are. Let’s see if you have the guts to come out of the woodwork and admit it now. I guarantee you won’t. Happy hiding.
…says the guy posting anonymously on the Internet.
I have relatives in Aurora, haven’t heard from them yet. Local news there now confirms 14 dead. This just makes me feel like shit.
It’s not about posting anonymously on the internet. It’s about people who stalk others here. I don’t need to know where anyone lives or real names. I just want the stalking coward to tell everyone who he is instead of hiding. There is a difference. If that person likes to follow people around, then maybe he/she/IT should show people so others can avoid him/her/it in the future. It won’t happen and I know who it is. I just want them to come out of the closet.
I am sorry if you have any family involved in the tragedy. Priorities.
Also, this level of cowardly intolerance only strengthens my resolve for my views. I can’t wait to vote in the upcoming elections. Can’t wait to prove to intolerant cowards that they will never win. Not in my lifetime. I will do my best to influence people to do the right thing. To think for themselves. To not back down from politically correct bullies who cower behind political correctness like rats. You know who you are. You drew the line. Remember that.
stjohns, every comments section winds up with you threatening everyone else with your vote. Nobody cares who or what you vote for. You are one person. Your vote and opinion are meaningless.
You’re a liar, minimizer. Anyone can see my comments. Remember that.
Obviously people do care who I vote for or what I think. That is evidenced by all the responses I get to my posts. You minimize that because you are a sheep and hope to be popular someday. You know why the politically correct comments get no love? Because it fucking bores people. I’m nothing like you. I get people talking. Interacting. Debating. It’s healthy as hell until little creeps come in and start bullying people into believing as they do. “If you don’t vote for gay marriage, you must be a homohatin’-homophobic-homocentric-homo-obsessed-homosapien. You are bad. You need to vote for gay marriage or everyone will think you’re not cool. You HAVE to do this. If not, we will fucking stalk you online like little cowards, lie about you and make people not believe you. It doesn’t matter if you’re posting in an unrelated blog. We will attach ourselves to your name and follow you. You have no choice. Just admit you were wrong and say you can’t wait to vote for gay marriage or else we will get rid of you. We will complain like little bitches to the Merc staff about you. We will try to get you banned. You must follow us or be cast out from the rest of us intolerant fuckers.”
I can get behind humor, even if I don’t agree with the subject matter. But stalking people online because someone chooses civil unions over gay marriage is fucking cowardly and pathetic. Dislike THAT, motherfucker.
Oh yes, let’s make this about petty arguments about liking and disliking comments.
Please stop.
It’s not about a petty argument about the like/dislike button. It’s about cowards that stalk and harass people here for their views. I’m just calling them out. I made my posts above which were on topic and totally relevant.
Please stop
I agree with stjohnsrules. People disliking his/her comments is truly the worst thing that has happened today.
Ride my coattails into oblivion. It’s not like any of you were going anywhere anyway.
countdown until you say ‘say it to mah face.’
You’re tolerated stjohnsrules—but now you’re going to shut the fuck up about your insecurities. This is one post that you’re not going to hijack any further. You’re insulting the victims of this terrible crime, and you’re going to stop it, or get stopped.
I was done anyway.