Gunman kills 12, injures 50 in US cinema; FBI says no links to terrorism
Policemen taking statements from witnesses.—AP Photo
AURORA: A gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and fired into a crowded Colorado movie theatre at a midnight opening of the latest Batman movie, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50, authorities said.
It was the worst mass shooting in the US since the 2007 shooting on the Virginia Tech campus, and it immediately brought memories of the massacre at nearby Columbine High School in 1999, where two students opened fire and killed 12 classmates and a teacher.
Some moviegoers said they thought Friday’s attack was part of “The Dark Knight Rises,” one of the most highly anticipated films of the summer. Then they saw a silhouette of a person in the smoke at the front of the theatre, pointing a gun at the crowd.
“There were bullet (casings) just falling on my head. They were burning my forehead,” Jennifer Seeger said, adding that the gunman, dressed like a SWAT team member, fired steadily except when he stopped to reload.
“Every few seconds it was just boom, boom, boom,” Seeger said. “He would reload and shoot and anyone who would try to leave would just get killed.”
The shooter was arrested shortly after the attack near a car outside the multiplex theatre in Aurora. Federal law enforcement officials said the suspect is 24-year-old citizen James Holmes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
Authorities did not release a motive. The FBI said there was no indication the shooting was tied to any terrorist groups.
The Pentagon said some military members were either killed or wounded. Pentagon press secretary George Little said the number of military casualties was not yet clear. Aurora is home to a large Defense Department satellite intelligence operation at Buckley Air Force Base.
Marine Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, said initial indications were that Holmes was not a member of the military. Holmes had an assault rifle, a shotgun and two pistols, a federal law enforcement official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
FBI agents and police discovered Holmes’ apartment was booby trapped. Authorities evacuated five buildings as they determined how to disarm flammable and explosive material.
The suspect spoke of “possible explosives in his residence,” Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.
Holmes was a student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver but dropped out last month, spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said. She did not know when he started school or why he withdrew.
Holmes’ family said their hearts go out to those involved in the shooting. Police in San Diego read a statement from the family asking the media to respect their privacy. They said they’re cooperating with authorities and are trying to process everything.
San Diego police spokeswoman Andra Brown said there’s nothing to suggest the family had any involvement. Some of the injured at the theatre were children, with the youngest a four-month-old baby who has been released from treatment. Victims were being treated for chemical exposure apparently related to canisters thrown by the gunman.
“The Dark Knight Rises” opened across the world Friday, but the shooting prompted officials to cancel the Paris premiere, with workers pulling down the red carpet display at a theatre on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue.
“Warner Bros. and the filmmakers are deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time,” the studio said.
President Barack Obama said he was saddened by the “horrific and tragic shooting,” and he cut short campaigning to return to the White House.
Moviegoers spoke of their terror as violence erupted.
The gunman released a gas that smelled like pepper spray from a green canister with a tag on it, Seeger said.
“I thought it was showmanship. I didn’t think it was real,” she said.
Seeger said she was in the second row when the gunman pointed a gun at her face. At first, “I was just a deer in headlights. I didn’t know what to do,” she said. Then she ducked to the ground as the gunman shot people seated behind her.
She said she began crawling toward an exit when she saw a girl about 14 years old “lying lifeless on the stairs.” She saw a man with a bullet wound in his back and tried to check his pulse, but “I had to go. I was going to get shot.”
Witness Shayla Roeder said she saw a young teenage girl on the ground bleeding outside the theatre. “She just had this horrible look in her eyes …. We made eye contact and I could tell she was not all right,” Roeder said.
America needs stricter gun laws, very very sad for the victims and their family.
once again amarican defination of terrorism is fully exposed.
This man was an insane gunman and not a terrorist. Why? Because a terrorist by definition is an individual or group that perpetrates violence or propaganda against other people in order to achieve political gains. A dacoit cannot be called a terrorist. An army-man killing opponents in a battlefield is not a terrorist.
“An army-man killing opponents in a battlefield is not a terrorist”
And those defending their homes and home-land are not terrorists either.
This man was an insane gunman and not a terrorist. Why? Because a terrorist by definition is an individual or group that perpetrates violence or propaganda against other people in order to achieve political gains. A dacoit cannot be called a terrorist. An army-man killing opponents in a battlefield is not a terrorist.
I agree that many muslims are wrongly targeted as Terrorists when they perpetrate violence for their self-gains. But we should refrain from shouting down the voice and opinions of other people and do a self-introspection. Why do we only hear the voice of the extremist muslims and not that of the moderate ones. Why don't muslims demonstrate in large numbers when an innocent Asia Bibi is condemned to death in jail? Why don't the Muslims demonstrate against extremist muslims, talibans and hate-mongers like Anjem Chaudhary. ?????
Muslims need to wake up and rise against the extremists among their groups.
very sad to hear about killing innocent ppl, but still media doesnt show burma muslims killings in thousands.
Crusades Continued.
1212- “CHILDREN’S CRUSADE”- 30,000 French and 20,000 German children walk to the Holy Land. Most die or are enslaved; less the 3,000 return.
1219- FIFTH CRUSADE- CAPTURE OF Damietta in Egypt; never reaches the Holy Land.
1228- SIXTH CRUSADE- Frederick II leads most moral Crusades; gains only negotiated access to Jerusalem.
1914- General Allenby’s forces (British) occupy Jerusalem (after a long time Europeans gain control).
1947- The British transport the Jews of Europe after WW II to occupied Palestine and a year later create the State of Israel. A Western Aircraft Carrier in the sea of Arabs.
1965. Israel captures Jerusalem from Jordan.
2001- George Bush (The Second) – invades Afghanistan and plunges the US into its longest war ever. Now the problem is how to extricate itself out of this quagmire that has drained its treasury. The US is almost bankrupt.
The export of terror from the West started in 1095 AD–The First Crusade.
1146- SECOND CRUSADE- French and German Crusaders lose Edessa;
1187- THIRD CRUSADE- “Crusade of Kings”: Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, Philip Augustus of France, Richard I, the Lion-hearted of England recaptures Acre;
1198- FOURTH CRUSADE- The “Trader’s Crusade” — Mediterranean merchants join the Crusades;
Every action has reaction. and this is the reaction of the prayers of innocent victims of self-centered American policies around the world.
"No link to Terrorism"?? It is absolutely an absurd statement. If this is not terrorism then what else would you call it. Causing terror and fear is a simple definition of terrorism and the cold blooded murder of 12 people and 50 injured certainly runs fear in sane person's heart.
One human to another: it is tragic. God bless us all.
i guess kasab was a gunman too? not a terrorist
People, stop let anti Americanism get the best of you.
People, stop let anti Americanism get the best of you.
They are calling him a a gunman because he did not declare his affiliation to any ideological group.
No links to terrorism = No links to Islam?
"The University of Colorado Denver Aschutz Medical Campus has stated that Mr. James Holmes was in University of Colorado Denver's graduate program in neurosciences,". The univesity statement said that "Mr. Holmes enrolled at the university in June 2011." He was 24years old. Born Dec. 13, 1987
He was scheduled to make a presentation to the class in the spring on MicroRNA biomarkers.
Condolences to the victims' families. Just because the US Government is droning and terrorizing our country serves no reason to celebrate the loss of life. These Colorado residents are not responsible for any drone attacks in our country. Please educate yourselves a little bit more, people. Our government should have been strong enough to deny the US entry into our lands. Take Iran for an example! Our country is plagued by itself… That is the sad truth…
Its confirmed. FBI says there is no ‘terrorism’ link so far in the investigation. In other words no one feels ‘terrorized’ because there were no brown, Islamic-looking guys involved. Americans must feel safe already.