Aurora: In one of the deadliest mass shootings in the recent US history, a heavily-armed gas mask-wearing gunman opened fire at the midnight premiere of the new Batman movie in suburban Denver on Friday, killing 12 people and injuring 59 others.
Police said 71 people were shot. Aurora police Chief Dan Oates said the suspect wore a gas mask, a ballistic helmet and vest as well as leg, groin and throat protectors. He said he had an AR-15 military-style, semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and two pistols.
Oates added that there were four showings of the "The Dark Knight Rises" movie at the time and all were sold out. He did not know how many people that amounts to.
He, however, added that investigators are confident the gunman acted alone.
Police arrested 24-year-old James Holmes, whose apartment four miles away was booby trapped.
Meanwhile, a US official says the suspect bought a ticket to the midnight showing and went into the theatre as part of the crowd.
A federal law enforcement official said suspect James Holmes is believed to have propped open an exit door in the theatre as the movie was playing, donned protective ballistic gear and opened fire. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
The suspect was taken into custody near a car behind the theatre.
Who is James Holmes?
Holmes was studying neuroscience in a PhD program at the University of Colorado-Denver, university spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said.
Holmes enrolled a year ago and was in the process of withdrawing at the time of the shootings, Montgomery said.
Authorities gave no motive for the attack. The FBI said there was no indication of ties to any terrorist groups.