Batman cinema shooting: 14 people shot dead and 50 injured in Denver
A masked gunman has shot dead 14 people and wounded more than 50 others at a Batman film premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in the US, police said.
A total of 14 people have been killed and 50 wounded in a mass shooting at a cinema in Denver during a premiere of the new Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."
Eyewitnesses reported that a baby was shot at point blank range and some of the victims were children as a single masked gunman went on a rampage.
The gunman, who was quickly arrested, was reportedly wearing body armour and a gas mask and used tear gas in the assault inside the cinema.
The shooting happened at the Century Aurora 16 Movie Theater in a mall in the suburb of Aurora, Denver, Colorado which was packed for a midnight premiere of Two separate devices were also said to have been found in vehicles outside the cinema.
Local reporter Justin Joseph of KDVR said that, according to witnesses, the moment Batman appeared on screen a man wearng body armour and a gas mask, and wielding at least one long gun, stood up and faced the crowd.
What witnesses described as two "bombs" - now believed to be tear gas - were thrown into the crowd, he said.
He said: "As people ran this gunman opened fire hitting people. Police sources have told us there are at least 10 bodies inside the cinema, most of them children or teenagers, and one baby.
"A baby was shot at point blank range, the family were gathered around screaming."
Brenda Stuart, from 850 KOA Radio, said: "People inside tell us they thought it was part of the movie. They heard what they thought were firecrackers, loud bangs and all of a sudden they saw the bullets flying.
"Police officers are carting the injured to the hospital in their own cars, not waiting for the ambulances."
A makeshift hospital was set up at the mall to treat those wounded in the attack.
Local police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said: "The scene is still very active and we have little information for release at this time."
A makeshift hospital was set up at the mall to treat those wounded in the attack.
Police said the gunman is from Aurora but gave further no details. They were searching his home after he suggested there my be incendiary devices there.
By Nick Allen, Richard Alleyne
9:39AM BST 20 Jul 2012
Source
A total of 14 people have been killed and 50 wounded in a mass shooting at a cinema in Denver during a premiere of the new Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."
Eyewitnesses reported that a baby was shot at point blank range and some of the victims were children as a single masked gunman went on a rampage.
The gunman, who was quickly arrested, was reportedly wearing body armour and a gas mask and used tear gas in the assault inside the cinema.
The shooting happened at the Century Aurora 16 Movie Theater in a mall in the suburb of Aurora, Denver, Colorado which was packed for a midnight premiere of Two separate devices were also said to have been found in vehicles outside the cinema.
Local reporter Justin Joseph of KDVR said that, according to witnesses, the moment Batman appeared on screen a man wearng body armour and a gas mask, and wielding at least one long gun, stood up and faced the crowd.
What witnesses described as two "bombs" - now believed to be tear gas - were thrown into the crowd, he said.
He said: "As people ran this gunman opened fire hitting people. Police sources have told us there are at least 10 bodies inside the cinema, most of them children or teenagers, and one baby.
"A baby was shot at point blank range, the family were gathered around screaming."
Brenda Stuart, from 850 KOA Radio, said: "People inside tell us they thought it was part of the movie. They heard what they thought were firecrackers, loud bangs and all of a sudden they saw the bullets flying.
"Police officers are carting the injured to the hospital in their own cars, not waiting for the ambulances."
A makeshift hospital was set up at the mall to treat those wounded in the attack.
Local police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said: "The scene is still very active and we have little information for release at this time."
A makeshift hospital was set up at the mall to treat those wounded in the attack.
Police said the gunman is from Aurora but gave further no details. They were searching his home after he suggested there my be incendiary devices there.
By Nick Allen, Richard Alleyne
9:39AM BST 20 Jul 2012
Source