James Holmes

A masked gunman has shot dead at least 12 people and wounded almost 60 others at a premiere showing of the new Batman movie in Colorado. The man, wearing body armour and a gas mask, lobbed tear gas into the cinema before he began shooting during the screening at a mall in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

The shooting was made all the more shocking by the everyday nature of the setting – a suburban multiplex on a summer night, showing the latest in a blockbuster franchise – a special treat for holidaying school children, their parents and fans of the superhero series. A number of movie-goers were in Batman-themed fancy dress, so the tall young man who left the cinema then came back through an emergency exit dressed like a member of a SWAT team didn’t look completely out of place.

Local man James Holmes, 24, is believed to be responsible for the shooting – which he reportedly carried out using two “long guns” and a handgun. The suspect has been taken into custody as police respond to concerns that there may be explosives at the man’s apartment. Police say he did not resist arrest :: Read the full article »»»»