14 shot dead at 'Dark Knight Rises' showing in Colorado

LilCerberus · July 20, 2012, 04:50:03 PM

I heard a rumor that a pair of armed patrons apprehended & held the suspect until the police arrived.
Also, that there was already a police presence at the cinema in anticipation of rioters.

But only rumors, so far.
I also heard that ABC News is trying to blame this on the TEA Party.

Anyone know whether or not any of this is true?

HappyGilmore · July 20, 2012, 05:56:52 PM

Apparently the guy was in school, attempting a Ph.D. Told cops he was 'The Joker.'

Jack · July 21, 2012, 07:00:34 AM

He graduated from the same school district as me, Poway school district near San Diego. Not the same school, but in the same district. And many years after me.

tracy · July 21, 2012, 11:58:47 AM

Quote from: RCMerchant on July 20, 2012, 03:32:58 PM
Quote from: tracy on July 20, 2012, 02:35:12 PM
Quote from: indianasmith on July 20, 2012, 08:32:41 AM
The death penalty was made for people like this.

I agree! If this was a bid for notoriety then I wish he'd have just killed himself.

I thought we just shot mad rabid dogs.
Case in point.
Do we we really need a jury for mainiacs like this?
Some people need to die....common sense.The guys a murdering maniac.
I dont see a waste of space on a trial.
I say-Kill him.

He gave up after being witnessed by so many...tried and convicted.

FatFreddysCat · July 21, 2012, 12:44:23 PM

Quote from: LilCerberus on July 20, 2012, 04:50:03 PM
I heard a rumor that a pair of armed patrons apprehended & held the suspect until the police arrived.
Also, that there was already a police presence at the cinema in anticipation of rioters.

From what I've gathered, none of that happened. It was just another night at the movie theater, then the sh*t hit the fan. Local police were at the scene within 90 seconds of the first 911 call about the shootings.

QuoteI also heard that ABC News is trying to blame this on the TEA Party.
Anyone know whether or not any of this is true?

That was due to sloppy news reporting. The shooter, James Holmes, has the same name as a prominent member of the Denver area Tea Party organization. In their frenzy to get the story out, an overzealous ABC News reporter assumed that it was the same guy and reported it as such. The Tea Party guy had to unplug his phone because as soon as the erroneous report went out it started ringing off the hook with death threats. ABC corrected their story a short time later.

major jay · July 21, 2012, 03:58:03 PM

So he was actually trying to emulate the joker character.
It's kinda ironic that they are taking shots at society in the movie.
This town needs an enima.

AndyC · July 21, 2012, 04:59:39 PM

Went camping last night, so I haven't kept up with the news on this. Last I heard, the cops had evacuated the guy's neighbourhood because his apartment was booby-trapped six ways from Sunday.

JoeTheDestroyer · July 22, 2012, 01:43:08 AM

God, what a tragedy. Every time I see the picture of Tom Sullivan bawling his eyes out after searching tirelessly for his son, only to find that he was among the fallen, my heart breaks.

I think that image will forever be burned into my mind. Being a dad now myself, I can't imagine outliving my son. I wouldn't want to.

AndyC · July 22, 2012, 05:37:38 AM

Yeah, I found it really upsetting to read that the youngest person killed was a little girl the same age as my daughter.

The girl's mother was treated for multiple wounds and might be paralyzed. Last I read, she had been asking about her daughter, but didn't know yet. It's sickening to think about that.

Mr_Vindictive · July 22, 2012, 11:09:03 AM

This event was an absolute tragedy. It was obviously very well thought out by the shooter from what I've seen.

According to a news report I saw on CBS the other night, Holmes wired his apartment with an incendiary device at the front door. He cranked up very loud music before leaving that night in the hopes that a noise complaint would be called on him. When the police would have arrived, the device would have detonated. This would have pulled all available units to his apartment on the other side of the town, giving him more time for his shooting spree. That is chilling in it's methodology.

I'm a proponent of gun education, training and concealed carry. In NC, where I live, you cannot carry concealed or otherwise into a movie theater. Any location that requires money for entry is off limits for those that carry a pistol. I'm not sure if Colorado is like that. I can't help but think if at least one person in that cinema was carrying, this could have gone differently. My understanding is that the bastard was only wearing a tactical vest and it was not kevlar or armored. I can't help but believe that one armed patron could have defused this situation and taken care of what the judicial system will take 30 years to accomplish.

Allhallowsday · July 22, 2012, 01:27:26 PM

AP Source: Assault rifle jammed in Colo. attack

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-assault-rifle-jammed-colo-attack-121634899.html

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — The semiautomatic assault rifle used by the gunman in a mass shooting at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie jammed during the attack, a federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press, which forced the shooter to switch to another gun with less fire power.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to in order to discuss the investigation, said the disabled weapon had a high-capacity ammunition magazine. Police have said that a 100-round drum magazine was recovered at the scene and that such a device would be able to fire 50 to 60 rounds a minute.

That account of what happened inside the Century 16 theater emerged with other details of a suspect described as a budding scientist, brimming with potential, who pursued a graduate program even as he planned the attack with "calculation and deliberation," police said Saturday...

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-assault-rifle-jammed-colo-attack-121634899.html

Mr_Vindictive · July 22, 2012, 02:10:15 PM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on July 22, 2012, 01:27:26 PM
AP Source: Assault rifle jammed in Colo. attack

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-assault-rifle-jammed-colo-attack-121634899.html

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — The semiautomatic assault rifle used by the gunman in a mass shooting at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie jammed during the attack, a federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press, which forced the shooter to switch to another gun with less fire power.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to in order to discuss the investigation, said the disabled weapon had a high-capacity ammunition magazine. Police have said that a 100-round drum magazine was recovered at the scene and that such a device would be able to fire 50 to 60 rounds a minute.

That account of what happened inside the Century 16 theater emerged with other details of a suspect described as a budding scientist, brimming with potential, who pursued a graduate program even as he planned the attack with "calculation and deliberation," police said Saturday...

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-assault-rifle-jammed-colo-attack-121634899.html

My understanding is that he was using an AR-15 assault rifle with the drum mag as mentioned. Usually the large drum mags (which actually are two drums connected) hold somewhere in the area of 90 rounds. The rifle he used was semi-auto from the accounts that I have seen. ARs are prone to jamming, especially when using an aftermarket or extra capacity mag.

The AR though is no more deadly than any other semi auto rifle. It fires a 5.56 round, which is not much larger than .22 round. They are somewhat comparable, it just packs more force behind it and is a longer projectile.

A lot of people have asked how he was able to buy these weapons. So far I've not seen a reason why a gun shop would refuse to sell to him. He was a neurosurgeon student, had no history of mental illness, had money and I'm sure acted perfectly normal in the store. I'm just thankful his AR jammed. Shame it didn't earlier during the event.

Trevor · July 24, 2012, 02:44:54 AM

I sincerely hope that a prison inmate kills this Holmes SOB in jail and saves the US taxpayer a lot of money.

Fausto · July 26, 2012, 05:42:44 PM

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/25/12933951-tragedy-compounded-killers-parents-become-instant-pariahs?chromedomain=usnews&lite

Interesting article on the parents of the accused

HappyGilmore · July 26, 2012, 07:02:30 PM

I've read that, at least one if not more, of the victims are talking lawsuits. One guy in particular, is suing:
Holmes and his doctors
The movie theater itself
Warner Bros.

Personally, I'm not at ease with the suit. I understand it, to a degree. I feel he should be lucky to be alive considering the circumstance. But, I've not lived through that, so I can't judge. However, I disagree with suing Warner Bros. directly. Can't sue them. I say, yeah, sue the guy and his doctors. Also, I could see suing the theater directly: most 'emergency exits', to my knowledge, sound an alarm of some sorts. If it were propped open, as said, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Quote from: Trevor on July 24, 2012, 02:44:54 AM
I sincerely hope that a prison inmate kills this Holmes SOB in jail and saves the US taxpayer a lot of money.

To my knowledge so far, they are refusing to allow Holmes to be in General Population and he is in solitary confinement. Notably, due to the media surrounding the case. Also, I'm assuming, to avoid any likely 'lawsuits' down the line from Holmes's family if he is killed.