A gunman opened fire just after midnight at a suburban Denver movie theater on the opening night of “The Dark Knight Rises,” killing 12 people and injuring at least 70 others.
According to the Associated Press, the gunman – who is in custody – stood at the front of the theater and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. at a theater at a multiplex theater in a mall in Aurora.
“Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire,” Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said at a news conference.
Police, ambulances and emergency crews swarmed on the scene after frantic calls started flooding the 911 switchboard, officials said. Officers found the gunman near a car behind the theater. “A gas mask, rifle, handgun at least one additional weapon (were) found inside,” he said.
The suspect was taken into custody, but no name was released. Oates said there’s no evidence of any other attackers. There was also no immediate word of any motive. The suspect spoke of “possible explosives in his residence.
We are dealing with that potential threat,” Oates said, without providing details on where that was. He said police also checked for explosives in the parking lot and at the Century 16 theater and secured those areas.
The police chief said 10 victims died at the theater and two at area hospitals. Two people in critical condition were rushed to nearby Swedish Medical Center, spokeswoman Nicole Williams said.
Aurora is located on the southeast outskirts of Denver, about 10 miles from downtown.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
