12 shot dead at 'Dark Knight Rises' screening in Aurora, Colorado

[one...two...tree 2,762]

update:

Holmes, a graduate student at a nearby college with a clean arrest record, entered the movie auditorium wearing a ballistics helmet, bullet-proof vest, bullet-proof leggings, gas mask and gloves. He detonated multiple smoke bombs, and then began firing at viewers in the sold-out auditorium, police said today.

Bullets from the spree tore through the theater and into adjoining theaters, where at least one other person was struck and injured. Ten members of "The Dark Knight Rises" audience were killed in theater, while two others died later at area hospitals. Numerous patrons were in critical condition at six local hospitals, the Aurora police said this afternoon.

Authorities began removing bodies this afternoon, according to affiliate ABC7 Eyewitness News.

Holmes was apprehended within minutes of the 12:39 a.m. shooting at his car behind the theater, where police found him in full riot gear and carrying three weapons, including a AR-15 assault rifle, which can hold upwards of 100 rounds, a Remington 12 gauge shot gun, and a .40 Glock handgun. A fourth handgun was found in the vehicle. Agents from the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms are tracing the weapons.

According to police sources, Holmes told the officers arresting him that he was "The Joker," referring to the villain in the second installment of the Batman movie trilogy, "The Dark Knight." He also warned police that he had booby-trapped his apartment, leading officers to evacuate the Aurora apartment building.

http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html

[Obama 2012 1,714]

When the dust settles, I would love to read an interview on the actor by a Phsycologist.

My interest is in finding out why they pick on innocent parties, in this case movie goers. I mean, why didn't he just go off himself in the woods somewhere?

Depends on the circumstances of the individual. This guy is looking like things weren't going right for him, so he was mad at the world from initially looking on.

The other is he's just always had it in his blood to do something like this. Some people are born to kill, they love to kill, take joy in killing. Sometimes it's that simple.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Shameful?

You're proud? Yes shameful and a sad day indeed.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

You're proud? Yes shameful and a sad day indeed.

I don't believe the shameful act of one person defines a nation.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't believe the shameful act of one person defines a nation.

If only it was just one person. But it's one person every so often. That makes it many people over time that do this kind of stuff. It's more or less a regular occurrence, isn't it? How many more does it need to be until it sheds a bad light on the nation?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I'm not sure I would call it a regular occurrence.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

If only it was just one person. But it's one person every so often. That makes it many people over time that do this kind of stuff. It's more or less a regular occurrence, isn't it? How many more does it need to be until it sheds a bad light on the nation?

so 1 person here and there out of how many people that live in this country?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You're proud? Yes shameful and a sad day indeed.

Many things happened today that should make Americans feel proud. Numerous law enforcement and emergency workers responded quickly to the incident and transported the victims to numerous hospitals. When there were not enough ambulances available, police officers loaded patients into the back of squad cars and took them to local hospitals. The three hospitals were able to coordinate triage between them, round up doctors and other staff. All this live saving took place at 1 am and without assistance from the Federal Government telling them what to do.

The folks themselves in the theater, for the most part, didn't panic, they took whatever cover they could, and found ways to survive, individually, and collectively. Numerous acts of selflessness and courage have been noted.

Yeah, as an American, I feel mighty proud of my fellow Americans in Colorado.

Edited July 21, 2012 by ☼

[dalegg 143]

If only it was just one person. But it's one person every so often. That makes it many people over time that do this kind of stuff. It's more or less a regular occurrence, isn't it? How many more does it need to be until it sheds a bad light on the nation?

Well, maybe just a bad light on Colorado. Columbine wasn't that long ago, and not all that far away from this. Maybe something about the altitude makes people snap faster.

[slim 1,530]

Why is our national flag being flown at half-staff for this?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Well, maybe just a bad light on Colorado. Columbine wasn't that long ago, and not all that far away from this. Maybe something about the altitude makes people snap faster.

Colorado learned a lot from the mistakes at Columbine. Those mistakes weren't repeated in Aurora, and a lot of lives were saved in the process. The city of Aurora has gotten a lot of criticism for having a higher crime rate than the rest of the metro area, but the admirable performance of and coordination between several jurisdictions, including some from counties many miles away and called to the scene, is admirable. It's shown that Aurora has upped its game considerably. That's very good news for our citizens.

[웃 910]

Why is our national flag being flown at half-staff for this?

Update: President Obama has issued a proclamation that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at the White House and at all public buildings and grounds until sunset on July 25.

Edited July 21, 2012 by ☠

[Darnell 8,479]

what's up with Colorado?

First Columbine and now this..

Sure, the demographic on the shooters is totally different, but -

is there any strength to the posit that the higher elevation makes the shooters totally batsh|t crazy?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Update: President Obama has issued a proclamation that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at the White House and at all public buildings and grounds until sunset on July 25.

Oh good god. Overreaction.

First the idiot claims he knows how people feel because of his daughters, now this... geez.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

"I wish we lived in a country that valued access to mental health care as much as protecting gun rights." - A.k. Lienhart-Minnick on the CO shooting.

In nearly every one of these cases there are warning signs something is wrong with the individual along the lines of mental health issues. It seems the stigma of mental health issues in our society is contributing to these kinds of mass gun violence and it largely goes ignored in the National dialogue. The reasons people ignore it is because it is stigmatized. They don't want to do anything about it as they think it's not their problem, or they do say something and warn others and it goes unheeded, or people don't know how to handle someone who has it. People with mental health issues need help and the resources seem to be lacking for these individuals. Sometimes they won't get help themselves because of the stigma, or they are preyed upon by others because of their vulnerability. The ACLU has also stepped in to protect their rights by saying you can't put rich Auntie into a facility and take her money, and they don't have to take medication if they don't want to. When the other side of it is that some of them really do need the medication or help.

The question of maintenance of mental health and prevention and mitigation of mental illness - treatment - should be asked. These days, unless you have money, most mental health treatment is provided in jail. I wonder if treatment will be more available with the Affordable Care Act?

The neuroscience program he was pursuing is highly stressful and they are under a lot of pressure. The professors advise their students to not come into the labs on their weekends and instead go and be outside among people. Socialize and develop a life outside the high stress and pressures of the rigorousness of the academic career. It sounds like he didn't follow that advise nor cope very well. Also he was far away from his family and friends in CA and somewhat isolated. Perhaps for the first time in his life totally on his own. This can be very lonely and difficult on top of a highly stressful program where the expectation to preform well is a lot of pressure and his relief valve was unhealthy to say the least.

I highly doubt that the atmospheric pressure contributed to him or others like him suddenly snapping.