12 Dead, 50 Injured in Shooting at "Dark Knight Rises" Premire in Colorado

[Shyria Dracnoir]

CBS News

Originally Posted by CBS News

(CBS/AP) AURORA, Colo. - A gas mask-wearing gunman opened fire early Friday at a suburban Denver movie theater, leaving at least 12 people dead and dozens more injured, police said.

The violent and chaotic scene erupted about 12:30 a.m. local time as the suspected gunman, identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, stood at the front of one of the Century 16 theaters at the Aurora Mall where the latest Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" was playing. Witnesses reported that the gunman entered the theater through an emergency exit door and threw a gas canister before opening fire.

Originally Posted by CBS News

Officers found Holmes near a car behind the theater. He surrendered without resistance, police said.

Aurora shooting witnesses describe panic, chaos
Suspect in Colo. movie-theater shooting identified shooting

Police recovered four guns at the theater - one shotgun, two pistols and what is believed to be an assault rifle, a law enforcement source told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. Authorities also recovered a gas mask.

Aurora Police chief Dan Oates said there's no evidence of any other attackers. There was also no immediate word of any motive. Federal law enforcement officials are being briefed on the attack, but at this point, there is no indication it is terrorism-related, CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports.

The suspect spoke of "possible explosives in his residence. We are dealing with that potential threat," Oates said. Police were at the Denver-area apartment and had evacuated other residents of the building. Oates did not say whether any explosives had been found, but Orr reports that Holmes' residence was "booby-trapped" and police can see what looks like "buckets of extra ammunition" and some kind of chemicals, according to a law enforcement source.

I honestly don't know what to say at this point. It's an utterly reprehensible turn of events, and I don't see it getting any better by the time we puzzle out the man's motivations. There's going to be a lot of mudslinging in the near future, and I just hope no one else decides to bring a gun to that.