'The Dark Knight Rises' Massacre 12 Dead, 50 Injured

 

Here is the first photo of "Dark Knight" theater shooter James Holmes ... released by the University of Colorado, where he attended the School of Medicine. 

8:30 AM PT -- CNN is reporting ... Pentagon officials say members of the U.S. military are among the casualties in the Colorado shooting.

8:10 AM PT -- University of Colorado confirms ... Holmes was a student in the CU School of Medicine ... but withdrew last month. Holmes had been studying to get a PHD in neuroscience.

7:50 AM PT -- President Barack Obama's campaign stop in Ft. Myers, FL was instead just a speech by the president about today's tragedy, where he called the events "beyond reason."

 7:45AM PT -- Police say Holmes' studio apartment is "booby-trapped" in a sophisticated manner -- and they are trying to figure out how to disarm an explosive device attached to the front door.

7:00 AM PT -- A rep for the Aurora Medical Center says ... of the 15 victims being treated at AMC, 12 sustained gunshot wounds.

The other three are being treated for chemical exposure.

Six of the wounded are in critical condition -- with gun shot wounds to the neck, torso and abdomen.

6:50 AM PT -- Officials have released the 911 calls made moments after the shooter began his killing spree.
The callers are frantic ... describing the bloody chaos inside the theater. At one point, a caller says emergency responders can't enter the theater because of the tear gas.

6:47 AM PT -- A rep for the Aurora Medical Center says the hospital is treating 15 victims ... and the age range is 16 to 31.

6:43 AM PT -- NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly says the NYPD will take extra steps to provide protection at movie theaters showing "Batman" in New York ... releasing the following statement:

"As a precaution against copycats and to raise the comfort levels among movie patrons in the wake of the horrendous shooting in Colorado, the New York City Police Department is providing coverage at theaters where the 'The Dark Knight Rises' is playing in the five boroughs."

6:12 AM PT -- President Barack Obama has released a statement saying, "Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado."

6:05 AM PT -- The LAPD has immediately increased security at the famous Arclight Theater in Hollywood.

6:03 AM PT -- Warner Bros. has canceled tonight's red carpet premiere of "Dark Knight Rises" in Paris, France. The studio has issued the following statement:

"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."

5:48 AM PT -- According to CNN, law enforcement officers found "items of interest" in the suspect's home. They are saying the man is in his 20s and lives in the Aurora area.


A heavily armed gunman opened fire in the middle of a packed midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" ... killing at least a dozen moviegoers and reportedly wounding at least 50 others (including a 3-month-old baby) in Aurora, Colorado.

The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes from Aurora, CO.

Cops say Holmes was wearing a bulletproof vest, riot helmet and a gas mask when he entered the Century 16 Movie Theater through an emergency exit and began randomly firing at movie patrons. Witnesses say he tossed tear gas into the crowd before he started shooting.

Police arrested Holmes in the movie theater parking lot -- and federal agents evacuated his apartment building --after he "made a statement about explosives" in the building 

 One witness tells CNN Holmes did not resist arrest when cops moved in -- "He did not put up a fight."

At this point, police say there is no evidence of a second gunman.

Hundreds of police and FBI agents have already been assigned to the investigation.

A 15-year-old witness told CNN he was able to escape the theater when the gunman stopped firing to reload one of his guns.