By Zanub Saeed
A 24-year-old suspect was arrested for a mass shooting at a Colorado theatre screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" on Thursday evening.
A masked gunman entered a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., during a midnight screening of the final installment of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" saga, "The Dark Knight Rises," on Thursday night, and opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring 50 others, said The Los Angeles Times and Associated Press via local police and media. The suspect was found to be a white male that the police located in the theater's parking lot. He did not resist arrested, said CNN.
The gunman was said to have a rifle, shotgun, and two handguns on hand for the massacre, local police told the press. Eyewitnesses stated that the theater scene was chaotic, and that the suspect released noxious gas before he had begun shooting. Those who survived said they had to run past the dead bodies in the theater aisles and the theater itself to escape, noted The Los Angeles Times.
The shooting took place minutes after a 12:05 screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" was set to begin at the theater, located not far from Denver, said reports. The gunman entered the screening through the emergency exit door near the front of the theater room at Century 16 theaters, and, according to an eyewitness, "threw a canister across the theater," unleashing gas, "then started shooting," reported The LA Times.
The suspect was alleged a tall, muscular man, reported Denver NBC affiliate KUSA-TV 9News, wearing a riot helmet, gas mask, and dressed head to toe in black.
"He looked so calm when he did it," a witness told 9News.
Warner Bros, who released "The Dark Knight Rises" across the country and globe this weekend, said, "Warner Bros. is 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."
President Barack Obama soon after released his own statement regarding the mass shooting: "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. 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."
Reviews for "THE Dark Knight Rise" can be found at RottenTomatoes.com, which will of course include spoilers to the finale for those who have not had the chance to see it.
