13 Dead After Shooting During ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Movie

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) – A terrifying shooting at an Aurora movie theater overnight left 13 people dead and about 38 people hurt.

The shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. at the Town Center in Aurora at the Century 16 theater on East Alameda Avenue. Reports first came in that there were explosions in the theater showing the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.” Shots then rang out, and a frantic scene followed.

Police said a gunman with a gas mask on and dressed in black shot and killed dozens and dozens of people. Authorities say the suspect, James Holmes, 24, killed 10 people inside the theater complex and that three others died after they were taken from the scene. A three-month-old was among the dozens who were hurt, but the baby was treated and released from the hospital.

“Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire,” Chief Dan Oates said.

Officials at The Medical Center of Aurora confirmed that some of their patients had to be treated for chemical exposure. They went through that hospital’s decontamination process and were released.

The midnight showing of the movie had just started when the violence began. Donovan Tate and his girlfriend escaped from the packed theater.

“There was this one guy on all fours crawling. There was this girl spitting up blood. There were bullet holes in some people’s backs, in some people’s arms. There was one guy who was just stripped down to his boxers. It looked like he had been shot in the back or something,” Tate told CBS4.

Aurora police said victims have been taken to six different hospitals, with 23 going to University of Colorado Hospital and 15 to The Medical Center of Aurora. They wrote in a news release that “many were rushed immediately to hospitals in police cars by responding officers. The injured and dead include a wide age range.”

University of Colorado Hospital spokeswoman Comilla Sasson said nine people were critical condition in their emergency room.

“At 1 a.m. we received notice that there had been a shooting in the area and then at about 1:15 a.m. we started having patients pouring in via police cars, ambulances private car,” Sasson said. “Then we activated our disaster protocol. So we had folks from all parts of the hospital coming in to help us, coming in specifically for this tragedy.”

The Medical Center of Aurora took in 15 patients after the shooting, 12 of whom had gunshot wounds. Those people ranged in age from 17 to 31. Six patients were taken to Denver Health Medical Center and three of those patients were treated and released.

Holmes was recently a graduate student at the medical school at the University of Colorado and withdrew in June.

Witnesses and people who were evacuated from apartments nearby were being taken to Gateway High School at 1300 S. Sable Blvd. for interviews and also to reunite with friends and family. RTD provided buses that were used to move those people back and forth from the scene of the shooting to the school.

“This is not only an act of extreme violence, it is also an act of depravity,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a prepared statement. “It is beyond the power of words to fully express our sorrow this morning. Our prayers and condolences go first to the families of those killed, and we share the grief of everyone affected by this senseless event. We appreciate the swift work by local, state and federal law enforcement. Coloradans have a remarkable ability to support one another in times of crisis. This one of those times.”

The incident is one of the worst mass shootings in the United States since 32 people were killed in 2007 on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va. In 1999, 13 people were killed in the Columbine High School massacre that happened about 25 miles southwest of Friday morning’s attack.

Warner Bros., the production company behind “The Dark Knight Rises,” released a statement saying they were “deeply saddened” by the shooting.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT!

Cell phone video shot immediately after the shooting:

Celebraties reactions:

Olivia Munn: "My sincerest condolences to the victims and families in Colorado. So sad, so mindless."

Kaley Cuoco: "Colorado omg.. Praying for the families...this is sick."  

Alyssa Milano: "No. Colorado shooting. My heart aches. Prayers for the victims and families."

Russell Simmons: "Praying for the people of Aurora, Colorado."  

Ryan Seacrest: "Thinking about the families who were affected by this horrible incident in Colorado. My thoughts and prayers are with you all."

Eva Longoria: "My heart goes out to all the people affected in the Aurora, CO shooting. May God be with that town and their families... "

Ashley Tisdale: "Saying a prayer for #Aurora. So sad to hear the news, u r all in my thoughts."  

Jessica Simpson: "Praying for the victims and families of those involved in the shooting in Colorado. My heart is broken. So awful. God Bless..."  

Giuliana Rancic: "Chills & tears watching coverage of #Aurora shootings. Praying for the innocent lives lost & those in hospital. What a tragedy."  

J.R. Martinez: "Waking up to the #tragic news of the # #theatershooting in #aurora CO. Sickening to say the least. No excuses or trial~max penalty for him." 

Kevin Smith: "Heartbreaking to read witnesses in Aurora say they first thought the shooting and gas was an elaborate, in-theater extension of the movie." Snooki: "My prayers go out to the victims and families of the Colorado theater shooting." 

Mark Ballas: "Just heard about the Denver shootings.. My prayers go out to all the families..."

Donald Trump: "At least 12 dead and 50 wounded in Colorado--bring back fast trials & death penalty for mass murderers & terrorists."

Billy Ray Cyrus: "Oh no ! Just woke up and turned on the news "14 dead 50 hurt in Batman movie shooting". Praying for victims. So sorry and sad."

LuAnn de Lesseps: "What a tragedy in Colorado. Prayers to all the families."  

Dot-Marie Jones: "MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES IN AURORA CO. ITS A SENSELESS ACT , SENDING STRENGTH AND LOVE!"  

Paula Deen: "My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and families in Aurora, Colorado this morning."  

Kurt Warner: "My heart goes out 2 families effected by tragedy in Denver! Why must the world have so much hate & violence? We need more Love & Jesus!" 

Julie Benz: "in tears watching news footage of the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims & their families."  

Lisa Rinna: "My heart and prayers goes out to the people of Aurora colorado. Senseless violence and killing has to stop. Tragic."  

Jon M. Chu: "Just came out of the Dark Knight screening to find out about the shooting in Denver. So sad and senseless. Praying for families and victims." 

Melissa Gilbert: "Just saw news about shooting in Colo. stunned and saddened. Prayers to all."