Over 12 people have been killed and dozens injured after a heavily armed gunman opened fire during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado.
Witnesses tell police that the man, now identified as 24-year old James Holmes, was wearing a gas mask and bullet proof vest when he threw tear gas inside the theater and opened fire on the audience. Holmes, a University of Colorado student, killed a reported 12 people and injured over 38 during the attack. The youngest confirmed victim being a 3-month old baby.
Gunman James Holmes
Jennifer Seeger was watching The Dark Knight at Century 16 movie theater from the second row when the gun man opened fire and was just inches away from taking her life. She described the horrifying scene saying, “He came in and he threw a gas can and then I knew it was real. Then he shot the ceiling, after he shot the ceiling he pointed the gun at me. At that point I dived into the aisle and got lucky he didn’t shoot me”. Seeger then reported that Holmes walked up the stairs and started spraying the room with gunfire in every direction.
A video was posted on Youtube by 13shantyltoledo showing victims leaving the theater, one man in a daze covered in blood.
President Obama released a statement Friday morning paying tribute to the victims of this horrific incident:
“[Even] as we learn how this happened and who’s responsible, we may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings like this,” said President Obama. “Such violence, such evil is senseless. It’s beyond reason. But while we will never know fully what causes somebody to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living. The people we lost in Aurora loved and they were loved. They were mothers and fathers; they were husbands and wives; sisters and brothers; sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future and they had dreams that were not yet fulfilled.”
“We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded,” he said. “As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.”
This is not the first time tragedy has struck the area. On April 20, 1999 gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School, killing 13 people and injuring 21 more, just 15 miles away from the scene of Friday’s crime.
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