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Tragedy in Colorado
Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates talks to media at the Aurora Mall where as many as 14 people were killed and many injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates talks to media at the Aurora Mall where as many as 14 people were killed and many injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff - July 20, 2012 6:48 am

Twelve are dead and dozens wounded early Friday after a gunman opened fire at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises at a mall in Aurora, Colo.

The alleged shooter has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, a former neuroscience PhD student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. He was arrested in the parking lot outside the theater and taken into police custody.

Police said they have no evidence of additional shooters.

The shooting took place at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time, when witnesses said the suspect, who was masked and appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest, threw smoke bombs or tear gas canisters into the theater before opening fire.

The suspect was apprehended with four guns—one shotgun, one rifle and two handguns—according the Associated Press. The University of Colorado released this photo of Holmes:

Victims at area hospitals ranged from ages six to 31.

A Pentagon spokesman said Friday morning that three U.S. service members were wounded in the shooting.

ABC News contacted a woman living in San Diego who identified herself as Holmes’ mother, who responded to the news that her son was the suspect in the shooting by saying “You have the right person.”

A spokeswoman for the Holmes family said the suspect went to high school in the San Diego area.

ABC News also reported that Holmes might have been a member of a local Tea Party group, with no corroborating evidence. The network later apologized for the “incorrect” report.

Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates said the suspect’s apartment—four miles from where the shooting took place—had been “booby-trapped” with “very sophisticated” explosive devices. Police have evacuated the entire building and five others in the surrounding area as they attempt to disarm the explosives.

President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney both issued statements in response to the tragedy.

“Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado,” the president said. “As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family.”

“Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence that took the lives of 15 people in Colorado and injured dozens more,” Romney said. “We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief.”

Both candidates and their respective Super PACs announced Friday that they would suspend negative advertising in Colorado in response to the shooting.

Obama and Romney made brief remarks at scheduled campaign events, but cancelled their remaining events for the day.

“The federal government stands ready to do whatever is necessary to bring whoever is responsible for this heinous crime to justice,” Obama said in Ft. Meyers, Fla. “And we will take every step possible to ensure the safety of all of our people.”

Warner Bros. canceled the Friday “The Dark Knight Rises” premiere in Paris, as well as the corresponding press for the event.

“Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident,” the studio said in a release early Friday. “We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”
http://freebeacon.com/tragedy-in-colorado/

As an American, let me suggest to America-watchers out there that there are, at least, analogies to an earlier Southwest US event in yesterday's Colorado tragedy.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78774.html

As a Coloradan, and resident of Denver (Aurora is a suburb of Denver), I am shattered by the events of last night. I woke up to the news and it is the only thing on TV tonight. I have discovered that most of my friends, who are midnight movie and superhero movie afficionados, were not there. There are still a few I have not yet tracked down.
I am a former theater manager and owner and fear what this horror is going to do to the future of movie theaters, which are already operating on shoestrings. AMCs newly instated policy of banning frightening costumes and fake weapons can effect Rocky Horror, which I was involved with, and still love. Please let this cause the rethinking of possession of firearms!!!

Just unspeakable. I couldn't get over the many interviews with survivors---mostly young people--who were just so matter of fact about it all. I hope we are not becoming so callous towards these tragic events that we lose our "humanity". I mean, they've ALL been through an horrific ordeal. Maybe the shock and horror of what happened will hit them later....so sad about that guy, who is now confirmed dead, who died on his 27th birthday...his Dad frantically tried to get in touch with him all day....

I know how close you are to all that happened, OS. I'm so sorry for you....I have another friend in Denver--haven't heard from him, but I'm sure he wasn't there....it was the same thing for me when the Va. Tech. killings happened. Close to home, and I know someone who's roommate was among the dead...

I'm very sorry for ever posting that sick assholes face in the first place, I wasn't thinking, my heart goes out to these people, what a horrible event, in Toronto at a barbecue on a lawn 2 teens were killed & 27 people injured by a 18 year old with a gun, at the Eaton center downtown some creep opened up fire & shot one young guy & wounded all kinds of people who were there in the Food Mall, apparently nowdays kids look forward to their first gun, when it used to be a car, it's just a whole lawless insane society we're living in.

Sioux wrote on Jul 21^st, 2012 at 12:04pm:

Yes, you're correct Sioux, it is very sad indeed.

Heart Of Stone wrote on Jul 21^st, 2012 at 11:44am:



No need to apologise. Its natural to post a photo thats included in a news story.

My decision to remove it was simply a reaction to the good point that Pdog made about trying to forget his face or name and concentrating on those of the victims instead.

BILL PERKS wrote on Jul 21^st, 2012 at 2:44pm:


enjoy the pain and laughter....life can be very short!

peace love and understanding!

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2012 at 11:00am:


Supposedly, a journalist found his mother who is claimed to have said to the journalist that "they got the right guy" or something to that effect.

Agree... education not just come from the parents it is really complex but I think this is a very sad day not just for the victims relatives and friends but the parents, brothers and sister of this coward

Iys very disturbing and I cancelled my plans to go and see the movie. I dont want to see it anymore.

Pdog wrote on Jul 20^th, 2012 at 9:01pm:


I couldn't agree more, brother P-Doggy. To make things more screwed up, this latest tragedy took place in the early moments of July 21, which is the anniversary of the day in 456 BC that the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was burned.  How is that related? Read on.



The temple was constructed of marble and considered the most beautiful of some
thirty shrines built by the Greeks to honor their goddess of the hunt, the wild and
childbirth. One hundred and thirty metres long, and supported by columns eighteen
metres high, it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

It was purposefully put to the torch by a guy named Herostratus.

Far from attempting to evade responsibility for his act of arson, Herostratus proudly
claimed credit in an attempt to immortalise his name in history. To dissuade similar-
minded fame-seekers, the Ephesean authorities not only executed him, but also
condemned him to a legacy of obscurity by forbidding mention of his name under
penalty of death. This did not stop Herostratus from achieving his goal, however,
as the ancient historian Theopompus recorded the event and its perpetrator in his
Hellenics. And today his name is used to describe this awful kind of crime.


Today, The English term Herostratic fame relates to Herostratus, and means, roughly, "fame at any cost". Scumbags such as the worthless piece of shit who murdered John Lennon — ("The result," he said, "would be that I would be famous; the result would be that my life would change and I would receive a tremendous amount of attention.") — may be considered modern examples of the Herostratically famous.

And so can this latest guy, whose name I won't mention.

I AM glad his name wasn't Muhammad, anyway.