'Dark Knight Rises' Theater Shooting: Attacker Identified as James Holmes, 24
Thursday's shooting at a premiere screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, has shocked the nation, as the attacker was identified Friday morning as 24-year-old James Holmes.
Holmes hurled a gas canister into the auditorium and started shooting people inside one of the theaters. He killed 12 people and injured 50. Earlier reports had counted 14 victims but the number was revised to 12 Friday morning, according to AP and Reuters.
"Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time," President Barack Obama said in a statement today.
Many people took to social networks to pour out their condolences including celebrities.
"Thinking about the families who were affected by this horrible incident in Colorado. My thoughts and prayers are with you all," Ryan Seacrest wrote.
"My heart goes out to all the people affected in the Aurora, CO shooting. May God be with that town and their families," actress Eva Longoria said.
Holmes reportedly entered into the theater through an emergency door 20 minutes after the movie wearing a bullet-proof vest and riot-type mask. He threw the gas canister and opened fire in the darkness, according to witnesses.
A woman from San Diego who identified herself as Holmes' mother told ABC News police had the "right person."
"You have the right person," she told ABC News. "I need to call the police... I need to fly out to Colorado."
Witnesses say they heard a series of explosions and saw people running from the theater. Among those who were shot was a 3-month-old infant, according to AP.
"We were maybe 20 or 30 minutes into the movie and all you hear, first you smell smoke, everybody thought it was fireworks or something like that, and then you just see people dropping and the gunshots are constant," witness Christ Jones told ABC's Denver affiliate KMGH. "I heard at least 20 to 30 rounds within that minute or two."
10 people died on the scene and the injured ones were being treated for shots and effects of tear gas. Some were in critical condition, according to reports.
The FBI and local police are investigating the shooting.
