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| | Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead[CLOSED ]Page 1 of 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
By ANTHONY CASTELLANO | Good Morning America – 5 hours ago...
http://gma.yahoo.com/mass-shooting-colo-movie-theater-14-people-dead-085940786--abc-news-topstories.html
A lone gunman dressed in riot gear burst into a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., at a midnight showing of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" and methodically began shooting patrons, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50.
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.
Police said 10 victims died inside the theater, while dozens of others were taken to local hospitals, including a child as young as 6 years old.
A San Diego woman identifying herself as James Holmes's mother spoke briefly with ABC News this morning.
She had awoken unaware of the news of the shooting and had not been contacted by authorities. She immediately expressed concern that her son may have been involved.
"You have the right person," she said.
"I need to call the police," she added. "I need to fly out to Colorado."
Holmes was wearing a bullet-proof vest and riot helmet and carrying a gas mask, rifle, and handgun, when he was apprehended, according to police. Holmes mentioned having explosives stored, leading police to evacuate his entire North Aurora apartment complex and search the buildings early this morning.
Witnesses watching movies in theaters next to the one where the shooting took place said bullets tore through the theater walls and they heard screaming.
"The suspect throws tear gas in the air, and as the tear gas appears he started shooting," said Lamar Lane, who was watching the midnight showing of the movie with his brother. "It was very hard to breathe. I told my brother to take cover. It took awhile. I started seeing flashes and screaming, I just saw blood and people yelling and a quick glimpse of the guy who had a gas mask on. I was pushed out. There was chaos, we started running."
One witness said she saw people dropping to the ground after the gunshots began.
"We were maybe 20 or 30 minutes into the movie and all you hear, first you smell smoke, everybody thought it was fireworks or something like that, and then you just see people dropping and the gunshots are constant," witness Christ Jones told ABC's Denver affiliate KMGH. "I heard at least 20 to 30 rounds within that minute or two."
A man who talked to a couple who was inside the theater told ABC News, "They got up and they started to run through the emergency exit, and that when she turned around, she said all she saw was the guy slowly making his way up the stairs and just firing at people, just picking random people," he said. "The gunshots continued to go on and on and then after we didn't hear anything...we finally got up and there was people bleeding, there was people obviously may have been actually dead or anything, and we just ran up out of there, there was chaos everywhere."
Witnesses and victims were taken to Gateway High School for questioning.
Hundreds of police and FBI agents are involved in the investigation. A senior official who is monitoring the situation in Washington said that early guidance based on the early snapshot of this man's background indicated that this act does not appear to be linked to radical terrorism or anything related to Islamic terrorism.
Though police have said that they believe the shooter was acting alone, they checked all cars in the parking lot and cleared the area near the theater.
In a statement, President Obama said, "Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded."
A man who was in the adjacent theater with his son, said that the commotion began as one of the action scenes was starting up.
"These guys came through, and they say someone's shooting," he said. "I thought, 'Oh, they must have heard the fireworks, you know ... I had no idea. And then the alarms started to go off in the theater.'"
An explosive device was also found inside the movie house. Police are not sure whether the device, which investigators are calling a bomb, was already in place or whether it was thrown into the crowd.
Ambulances rushed to the scene as audience members fled the theater.
Investigators are now interviewing friends and associates of the suspect to get a sense of the man's background.
Gun Control Thread Going Nowhere.
OP - read the posted rules with regards to simply posting a news story without stating your position or comments.
THREAD CLOSED
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 8:01:16 AM | That was a man taking this movie WAAAAAAAAY too seriously, although he probably was sane enough to realize that many rabid fans come to midnight screenings dressed as characters in the movie, and wearing a Bane-type vest and gas mask probably wouldn't draw much attention to him as he wandered around the parking lot and entered the building (although if I saw him, I probably would have questioned the "fake" rifle he was toting).
I actually saw "Dark Knight Rises" at an advanced screening myself. I would say it's difficult to imagine it having ended up like this one, but having worked in theaters for years, I've seen all kinds of chaos -- though this is obviously a few steps above anything I've experienced.
His "motives" will be interesting to say the least -- good that he wasn't killed or that he didn't kill himself. Interesting that this happened not far from Columbine. And it will also be interesting to see what becomes of this thread, with all the guns' rights and mental patients and child-rearing arguments that will erupt. But perhaps a line from the previous Batman movie is most appropriate here: Some men just want to watch the world burn. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 8:15:43 AM | 14 dead now including an infant child.
More than likely another drug affected dood who has no interaction or respect for fellow human beings.
This guy must of thought he was in another world...Why is it good that he didn't kill himself? He is going to rot in prison whilst people are mourning the loss of their loved ones. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 10:02:18 AM | More than likely another drug affected dood who has no interaction or respect for fellow human beings.
^^
Ever notice most of the high profiled killers were not drug affected? At least, drugs were not the foremost mentioned in media therefore not clearly a main blame for their actions.
What could be to blame is a simple common fact....batshyt crazy.
There's crazy and then there's batshyt crazy.
edit*
14 dead now including an infant child.
oh dear :( | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 10:46:14 AM | "OR a PhD student specializing in neuroscience."
Yeah, it's questions like that: how do you go from a real life "Big Bang Theory" aspirant to killing a dozen innocent moviegoers while dressed like one of the characters in the film? It seems pretty unlikely it was drug-fueled considering how booby-trapped his apartment is, which would have taken considerable time and concentration.
I have not heard much mention of the fact that Aurora is quite close to Columbine (well Balrog just did while I was making this post!). Could be just a coincidence or something really weird might be going on in South Park land. In any event, we had kind of assumed when Columbine happened that its lessons would help prevent future massacres, but most of the ones since then seem to have only had one thing in common with it (besides location in this case): a lot of people were shot. The backgrounds and motives of the killers have all been highly diverse -- which since Columbine hasn't really repeated itself, maybe means those lessons were learned but there's always some new crazy on the horizon. I do feel like the United States has become a more tolerant and civil place, especially among youth, since Columbine, but you can't tell that from online interactions, including POF forums. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 10:48:14 AM | And HOW will the NRA spin this one?
Do we really need more assault rifles for sport? 12 dead, 38 wounded and the beat goes on...
When will we finally deal with this problem. When will we finally realize that crazy people can buy guns far too easily. Now lets wait and hear from all the gun wackos on the site! | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 10:57:48 AM | And, apparently, one of the victims just missed being in the midst of the shooting in Toronto's Eaton Centre last month...
After buying dinner in the mall's food court at 6:20 p.m., Redfield wrote that she felt "funny" and left the mall to get some fresh air.
"It was almost a panicky feeling that left my chest feeling like something was missing. A feeling that was overwhelming enough to lead me to head outside in the rain," she wrote.
"The gunshots rung out at 6:23. Had I not gone outside, I would’ve been in the midst of gunfire."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/07/20/denver-shooting-victim-eaton-centre.html | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 11:17:23 AM |
More than likely another drug affected dood who has no interaction or respect for fellow human beings. Yes, most likely prescription psychotropics like Prozac and Cymbalta.
And he'll eventually be included on the ever-growing list of "Adults: Shootings, Violence & Delusions" or "Antidepressants & Teens who Kill" page of antidepressantfacts | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 11:26:33 AM | | ^ I was just gonna say the same thing. The fact he was involved in neuroscience, then dropped out, first thing I thought of was psych meds. Maybe someday people on psych meds won't get gun permits...How many incidents will it take? | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 1:06:27 PM | | Perhaps the shooter needed psych meds and therapeutic interventions but did not receive them. We really don't know yet. If someone out there has a serious mental illness that impairs their ability to function, I would rather they receive treatment. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 1:26:37 PM | OR a PhD student specializing in neuroscience.
I work at a university in a school of one of the "hard sciences" and these students can be pretty intense. We had one jump from a building several years ago.
The daughter of one of my coworkers happens to know the shooter as they were in the same Ph.D. program (he dropped out last month), they had classes and labs together, he briefly dated one of her friends, and were at the same party last weekend. NO ONE had any idea that he was disturbed, he must have snapped.
My coworker is so grateful that she didn't go to the movie last night as she did consider it, as she is often up late working in the lab. They are not letting anyone into her lab until they can ensure that it isn't booby trapped. Very, very scary.
As for the shyt for brains parents who took their small children and baby to this film IN THE 1ST PLACE...AND at Midnight? WTF were these people thinking? | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 1:30:33 PM |
When will we finally deal with this problem.
Who is "we?" Both Congress and the states are free to place reasonable restrictions on firearms.
Do we really need more assault rifles for sport?
At such short range, this murderer would not have needed an AR-15 to kill a lot of people--he also had a couple .40 cal. pistols and a shotgun. I don't know why you focus on "assault rifles," except to make semi-automatic rifles sound sinister. Semi-auto rifles, shotguns, and pistols that are in no way military weapons have been common for a long time.
When will we finally realize that crazy people can buy guns far too easily.
Is there some evidence that Holmes is crazy, and not just evil? His academic success and the amount of planning he did argue against insanity. What grounds were there, if any, for preventing him from having guns?
It's a pity no one in the audience was armed so he could have stopped this **stard. I got used to seeing people openly carry guns when I lived in Phoenix. It never made me feel the least nervous. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 1:52:09 PM | | --could be that if we were more accustomed to open carry and folks less afraid of firearms, someone in the crowd could have taken the guy out before 14 lost their lives and more injured. Yep, I'm a gun rights wacko. :)) | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:03:38 PM | Hahahahaha!!! I knew I could depend on you guys!
Yes, maybe an armed person, could have added to the body count as well. I luv the way the gun nuts say if someone was armed they could have stopped this. You did read he had full body armour and a helmet right? So that means your target would have to be his face, small target, and if you missed and someone standing behind him, trying to get out, what then?
"Yep, I'm a gun rights wacko.:))"
So then, your happy about all the people around the country being shot? How many MORE people have to die, before we begin to have better control of who can purchase firearms? Colorado is a model state for this, ain't they?
Columbine, Gabby Giffords, now this...how many more have to die before we do something? This isn't the freakin 19th century! 71 PEOPLE SHOT...12 DEAD...this is a crime against all of us! | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:04:37 PM |
It's a pity no one in the audience was armed so he could have stopped this **stard. I got used to seeing people openly carry guns when I lived in Phoenix. It never made me feel the least nervous.
--could be that if we were more accustomed to open carry and folks less afraid of firearms, someone in the crowd could have taken the guy out before 14 lost their lives and more injured. Yep, I'm a gun rights wacko. :))
Well OyVay... looks like your post was somewhat prophetic... Sure didn't take long for the "OK Corral" crowd to start crowing...
Here's something for the ones I quoted... Think you can POSSIBLY, just possibly, show a little sensitivity first, show a little bit of compassion, BEFORE you start screeching about gun rights and "wild west" scenarios...?
Nah, I didn't think so... | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:16:13 PM | So then, your happy about all the people around the country being shot? How many MORE people have to die, before we begin to have better control of who can purchase firearms? Colorado is a model state for this, ain't they?
OyVay....happy....seriously? And you, of course, know that is taking it to a ridiculous place to even suggest that. I stand by my statement. I don't care how small a target to maim/stop the aggressor would have needed to be....I am saying less people would have died if we were less afraid of guns and more people were trained to respect and use them appropriately. In fact, there are instances where that is exactly what has happened, but they are not publicized. Those are the controls I would like to see, education on responsibility, handling, safety and respect. I don't care what century it is.
edit to add:
Think you can POSSIBLY, just possibly, show a little sensitivity first, show a little bit of compassion, BEFORE you start screeching about gun rights and "wild west" scenarios...?
Of COURSE, MrMungoe....the rest of the world couldn't function without your guidance, obviously. I have spend much of this day discussing this topic with others IRL....twist away, sir...it is your chosen MO on these forums I see.
And, now, I am done.
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:24:24 PM | --could be that if we were more accustomed to open carry and folks less afraid of firearms, someone in the crowd could have taken the guy out before 14 lost their lives and more injured. Yep, I'm a gun rights wacko. :))
*nods, i'm in agreement! you are a wacko, as well as the poster (msg #18) above you
@msg #16; take the time to read msg #13 .. the contraindications are very concerning | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:35:44 PM | This was a horrible tragedy! Lets hope they can find out the reason "why did he do it". We, here in Iowa also have a tragedy in Evansdale, Iowa... 2 young girls, ages 8 & 10 have been missing for a week. A lake was drained thinking they may have drowned...their bikes were found near the lake. After no results, it has been ruled an abduction.
What a horrible week it has been, let us all hope that's it! | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:37:34 PM |
Perhaps the shooter needed psych meds and therapeutic interventions but did not receive them. We really don't know yet. If someone out there has a serious mental illness that impairs their ability to function, I would rather they receive treatment.
Sad to watch again. Perhaps one day society, not just a handful of academics, will generally understand how killers are formed in a big picture kind of way and take responsibility itself too. Let's all believe in free will to the extreme and place the whole blame on the killer as always happens and ignore the reality again. | |
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| Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 12 People Dead
Posted: 7/20/2012 2:38:43 PM |
I have spend much of this day discussing this topic with others IRL....
Which thread are our "discussions with others IRL" posted in...? Link me to it so that I can see your compassion being posted first...
In the absence of that... I'm going to go with what your VERY FIRST POST on the topic shows me... | |
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