2012 Aurora shooting

On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. A gunman, dressed in protective gear and clothing, set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others. The sole suspect is 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes, who was arrested outside the cinema minutes later. 

Shooting

The shooting occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark), located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall.

Police said the shooter bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row; about 20 minutes into the film, he left the building through an emergency exit door, which he propped open; he then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns. About a half hour into the film, around 12:38 am, he re-entered the theater through the exit door. He was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest, a ballistic helmet, bullet resistant leggings, a throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves.

Initially, few in the audience considered the masked figure a threat. He appeared to be wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed that the gunman was playing a prank, while others thought that he was part of a special effects installation set up for the film's premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.

The gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke, partially obscuring the audience members' vision, making their throats and skin itch, and causing eye irritation. He then fired a 12-gauge Remington Model 870 shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semi-automatic rifle (a version of the AR15, similar to the M16 but without burst or automatic capacity) with a 100-round drum magazine, which malfunctioned. Finally, he fired a .40 S&W Glock Model 22 handgun. He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.[8] Some bullets passed through the wall and hit people in the adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same movie. Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began and staff told people in theater 8 to evacuate. One witness said that she was hesitant to leave because someone yelled that there was someone shooting in the lobby and that they shouldn't leave.

The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39 am. Police arrived within 90 seconds and found at least three .40-calibermagazines, a shotgun and a large drum magazine on the floor.

The police apprehended the suspect, James Eagan Holmes, about 12:45 am behind the movie theater, next to his car, without resistance. According to two federal officials, Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker," though authorities later declined to confirm this. (Holmes was seen with bright orange hair in his first court appearance.) The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside Holmes' car, including a second Glock handgun. Following his arrest, Holmes was initially jailed at Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch.

The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses after the attack. Investigators charge that Holmes acted alone and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization. Holmes had bought guns and ammunition legally: the guns at local gun shops and the ammunition online. He had purchased nearly 6,000 rounds of ammunition in the 60 days before the shooting.

Victims

Seventy people were shot or otherwise wounded, the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history. Ten died at the scene and two died in local hospitals. Those killed were: Jonathan Blunk, aged 26; Alexander J. Boik, 18; Jesse Childress, 29; Gordon Cowden, 51; Jessica Ghawi, 24; John Larimer, 27; Matt McQuinn, 27; Micayla Medek, 23; Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6; Alex Sullivan, 27; Alexander C. Teves, 24; and Rebecca Wingo, 32.

The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital, as well as at a makeshift hospital set up at the scene of the attack. Uninjured witnesses were taken to Gateway High School for police interviews. The youngest shooting victim was three months old.

Suspect

The sole suspect is James Eagan Holmes, who was born on December 13, 1987, and raised in San Diego, California.

Holmes has no criminal record. The media reported that they had found few digital footprints left by Holmes, other than a university e-mail address and an old Myspace photo.

Less than a month before the shooting, Holmes applied for membership at a private gun range, although he did not follow up.

It has been reported that Holmes had taken 100 mg of Vicodin about two-and-a-half hours before the shooting; but that reported amount according to sources may not be exactly correct.