RT NEWS: At least 12 moviegoers were reportedly killed and 20 injured at a cinema in the Colorado city of Aurora in the Denver suburbs. They were attending a midnight showing of the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. The theater was packed with a lot of people, many of them young fans, at the time the shooting started, 9news reports. The violence erupted some 15 minutes after the movie started, witnesses said. Some say that when they first heard the shooting, they thought it was some new type of special effect. Local media reports that two gunmen were involved in the rampage. An explosive device was set off during the shooting, injuring several people. Witnesses said the gunmen were probably wearing body armor and gas masks and used some kind of a tear gas bomb in the attack. Some reports say police have apprehended one of the assailants while the second one is still at large. Police have cleared people from the scene over fears that another explosive device might be on the premises. Aurora medical services were alerted to attend to the large number of injured. MORE
UPDATE: Aurora police chief Dan Oates: “At approximately 12.30am a gunman appeared at the front of one of the Century 16 theatres. “I say gunman because of right now we know of only one gunman and we have no evidence of any additional shooters. “We have no evidence of a second gunman but obviously we are concerned about that.” Police found the gunman out the back of the cinemas in possession of a gas mask and a rifle. MORE
UPDATE: “We heard 10 to 20 shots… and then management came on the PA system and put the fire alarm on and said everyone had to get out.” MORE
UPDATE: “Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister.” Oates said. “They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire.” A witness, Bejamin Fernandez, 30, said he was 
watching the movie when he heard a series of explosions. He said that people ran from the theater and there were gunshots as police shouted ‘get down!” Salina Jordan, 19, was in Theater 8 and saw people hit in her theater. She said one girl was struck in cheek, others in stomach including a girl who looked to be around 9-years-ol Jordan said it sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into Theater 8 yelling “they’re shooting out here!” The police came running in, telling people to run out. Some police were carrying, dragging bodies, she said. MORE
UPDATE: One report described the shooter opening fire as Batman appeared on the screen for the first time. Oats said witnesses said the gunman stood up, tossed a canister of some type, there was a hissing noise and then smoke filled the theater, possibly tear gas. The suspect is described as a man, possibly in his early 20s, wearing body armor and a gas mask. He reportedly had both a long gun and a handgun as well. Aurora Police Public Information Officer Frank Fania said there is no motive known at this time and officials are unaware of how he gained entrance to the theater. “It’s not known if he came from behind the screen or through a backdoor, but that he just appeared,” said Fania. Police took him into custody behind the theater where his car was parked, which was not a part of the parking lot. The police station is located two to three blocks from the theater. A witness told KUSA that he heard anywhere from 10 to 20 shots, then some small explosions and screaming. He said the public announcement system came on instructing everyone to get out of the theater and the fire alarm was pulled. Police have apprehended the suspect and are searching his apartment after he told officials he had explosives in it. The apartment building has been evacuated. An explosive device was found in a theater, and there are two reports that explosives were found in the parking lot. MORE
RELATED: Jessica and Brent were seated in the middle portion of the theatre when a device was thrown into the theatre that produced a “hissing” sound. The theatre than began to fill with smoke which is when patrons began to move from their seats. At that time, shots were fired. Brent and Jessica immediately dropped to a prone position for cover. Jessica advised multiple times for someone to call 911, which Brent immediately attempted to do. Brent then heard Jessica scream and noticed that she was struck by a round in the leg. Brent, began holding pressure on the wound and attempted to calm Jessica. It was at this time that Brent took a round to his lower extremities. While still administering first aid, Brent noticed that Jessica was no longer screaming. He advised that he looked over to Jessica and saw what appeared to be an entry wound to her head. He further stated that Jessica presented with agonal respirations. Brent then took what may have been his only chance to escape the line of fire and exited the structure where he then contacted my mother. Brent’s actions are nothing but heroic. MORE
UDPATE: The suspected “lone-wolf” shooter of the Batman movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo. earlier today has been identified as PhD student James Holmes [pictured, above right], who recently withdrew from his neuroscience studies at the Univesrity of Colorado before shooting up “The Dark Knight Rises” screening. Holmes, 24, moved to Aurora to pursue his PhD at the University of Colorado medical center, living just blocks from the hospital in an apartment that is now laced with explosives and being searched by Haz-Mat teams. MORE
UPDATE: Warner Bros, the studio that released The Dark Knight Rises, has cancelled tonight’s Paris premiere of the film in the wake of the shooting. They have also released a 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.”