Thoughts & Prayers for Colorado

For those of you who haven't heard or aren't in the states and maybe don't get this type of news, a gunman opened fire in Aurora, Colorado at the premier showing of Batman early this morning (late last night).

The last I heard there were 12 killed and roughly 40 more injured, ranging in all ages. The gunman is in custody now. He was 24 years old, and they're finding more information out now about him and his home (booby trapped, had explosives all over.. this was clearly very thought out).

It's sickening and so sad... a movie theater of all places. So senseless, no matter the motive. My heart and my prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.

News/media is already pointing fingers politically, but I don't think this is politically driven (Batman, really?). The guy clearly has issues and we can only wait to find out more. This isn't a time to divide, and it's sad that our media is so quick to do that.

Augh, this just weighs heavy on my heart. Aurora, CO is close to Columbine.

There are a ton of news reports out there, here is a local one of mine that I've been following: http://www.kptv.com/story/19071381/gunman-opens-fire-on-packed-theater

It was horrible what happenend there.I am praying for those who are involved in this tragic situation.

I found this as devastating, someone heading in to a Profession (Medical) with a code of conduct of saving, not devouring lives....abhorrent, to say the least.

Link: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/20/12854157-theater-shooting-suspect-was-graduate-student-at-colorado-medical-school?lite

So much for the policy of trusting common people to own and operate guns....they just take innocent lives, human or animal.

What a filthy 'Terrorist'

!

Prayers to those dead.

Such horrific news :(

Thinking of all those involved. I will never understand such acts.

Awful news..maybe it is time to stop making movies and games with violence in them:(

Horrible event

What made it scarier is that his mom, in San Diego, called the police when she heard about it, before the suspect was named, to see if her son was the perpetrator.

What, seriously?

Do you have a link to that so I can read, Larry?

The reports here (in Colorado) are that the mother said "I think you have the right person" in a call TO her by authorities in Aurora.
I've been watching the live reports since early this morning and no one is saying she initiated the call.

Anna, how closeish is it to where you are?

I guess it's one of those you don't really know until you're in that situation, but if I had a family member or friend that I feel could pose a threat to society or themselves in any way (especially like this), I would say something. It's better for said person to get help for themselves, and saves so many lives. I get that sometimes it really is just a psychotic break, or you don't know.. but a lot of times people come out and say things like they knew something like this could happen one day. Then why not say anything? Maybe they did, maybe it's much harder.. again I haven't been there. But I would hope I'd have the courage and strength to say something if I felt it was necessary..

I agree with that, Britt. I'm just trying to get the facts straight since I'm relatively close to the situation.

Denver is about 40 miles north of me....so all the local reporters are at the site. The interviews with the people in the theater at the time are absolutely heartbreaking.

I've been able to watch some of the videos, I'm at work and some of it is currently blocked by the server.

That area has seen too much grief, with Columbine in 1999 and this. I really wonder what was going on in this persons head. Sometimes you find things out, sometimes you don't. Not that a motive will make anything at all okay.. just insight.

This guy graduated with high honors when he got his undergraduate degree and came to Colorado to pursue his masters degree in an area of neuroscience that does research into the human brain and what makes us "tick". His professors have said that he is the brightest student they have ever seen. Ironic............

The news in Australia showed it last night but I didn't get to see the full report.

To those that were killed or hurt, my sympathy goes out to you and your families. I don't know how someone could want to hurt others like that, the fact that it was a Batman movie makes me think that there could have been a lot of kids there :( though was it the midnight screening? Oh that is just so sad but it makes me so angry to think that there is that much hate in someone that they would hurt the others like that.

Liz there were quite a few kids at the screening even though it was midnight :/ Not that the parent's could've known that'd happen, but there was also an infant, which is odd to me. I wouldn't think to bring a baby to a movie (mostly because if I'd be getting out of the house, I'd want to do it w/out youngin lol).

Anna that's really interesting.. I knew that's what he was in school for. I heard early on that he quit the school last week - is that right?

There were LOTS of kids there.....one of his victims was a 6 year old little girl.

Did she survive?

My news doesn't tell as good of news as yours, Anna, lol. The reports just give random numbers that have changed. First 14 people died, now it's 12, then 50 people were injured, then 38, now it's closer to 60. I get that it's chaotic, but it's easier for me to go reread when the stories are a bit older and straightened out.

Edit: now I just heard on the radio about 79 people were injured. Bah.

Oh man, for him to hurt that many people he must have went nuts. Poor kids. Even the ones that weren't injured physically will have mental scars for the rest of their lives oh gosh!!!

Yes, the 6 year old was shot point blank and died.

The official numbers from the police are:
12 killed

59 wounded (some in critical condition)

10 of the bodies are still in the theater because they haven't been able to find the next of kin.

"Yes, the 6 year old was shot point blank and died."

I've officially lost it... this is heartbreaking.

:( poor baby

This is just so sad. It is scary because in relation to people being allowed to have guns etc... why would this person not be allowed one? Given he sounded like a clever student. So it just makes you think how people can seem normal but inside is a different story. I hope he does give an explanation as to why he done this... I know it won't change what he has done but I can imagine all the families involved will be asking why. :(

Ugh, that is so sickening. Thanks for the news, Britt. I actually have a fear of being shot in a movie theatre. Just goes to show that fear isn't totally irrational.

They should have metal detectors or something around the entrances as a requirement.

I have the same fear, I always sit near an exit (though in this case would've been bad).

I wanted to go see this movie and now I'm nervous. I know it's ridiculous and eye-roll worthy, because the odds of it happening again, especially at the same movie, are slim to none. I'm just going to be leery about movie theaters for a bit.

Those sitting near the exit are most likely to die first.

Btw, ladies... It doesn't only happen in movie theaters; it happens everywhere, if you're afraid of theaters in specific. in clubs, bars,...

Someone said about the metal detectors in one of the news clips, but the reply was that he could have went in through any enterence not just the main one.

I don't know how much this would cost to get done but I thought it was a good idea.

Good point Abed... that is what is so tragic. I mean if you look back to all the horrific events it happens in safe places... schools even, where you think your kids are safe to go and return safe :(

I just cant help but think what on earth was going through his mind. The fact he had it all planned out and had protection on for himself etc makes me assume he knew fine well what he was doing? Or is that just me?

He came in through the exit door (if that report is still correct).

I don't go to clubs or bars so I'm good :) Haha. Realistically it could happen at my job (people are mad at me all the time, I'm in insurance), or grocery shopping, going to the bank etc. I guess if it's supposed to happen it's going to no matter the precautions you take. It's silly to live in fear to the point of you not doing something (never going to a movie again).. though if I were a part of this incident, I don't think I'd ever be able to go to the movies again.

"The fact he had it all planned out and had protection on for himself etc makes me assume he knew fine well what he was doing? Or is that just me?"

100% no doubt this was premeditated.

I guess those who died are mostly children and teenagers, right?
Since it's Batman!

so if the thing was premeditated, what are his objectives?

..weird..!

They haven't released all of the names/ages of everyone yet, to my knowledge, because they haven't found the next of kin. I think Anna said that, or I heard it on the radio. I can't keep up!

I think there was a pretty big range of people. It was a midnight showing so I would assume less teens than normal, maybe? It's summer though... so I don't know.

I have no idea what his objectives would be. Media tried to put a political spin on it, but I don't know how it's linked to politics, it didn't add up to me. Someone on a comedy type show joked in poor humor that maybe he just really hated Batman. :/

I dont think it was mostly children as it was a midnight viewing, but there were kids there.

This is where I hate the news because you don't know what to believe. One says a 6 months old baby was there but why?? :/

Maybe he had been thinking this way for a while and it just so happens that this event was big enough and easy enough for him. I mean easy int he way of entering and being unnoticed etc as it would be dark.

See, this is how information gets screwed up......I said twice that it was a 6 YEAR old child.

There were also two young teenage girls whose father had taken them to the movie. The father was shot in the chest and the two girls had to leave him sitting in his seat in order to save themselves. I haven't heard if he survived or not. They have interviewed several 18 year olds and some in their twenties. Looking at the pictures, I think it was a fairly young crowd....young compared to me that is.

"The father was shot in the chest and the two girls had to leave him sitting in his seat in order to save themselves"

Oh my god. Can you imagine witnessing that? I am just in awe.

From my understanding the man was actually perfectly cailm during the whole event

Very sad to hear about this. I wonder will some motive emerge. Some aspects of his past will probably hint at a psycopathic nature, child abuse etc. The frightening thing is that people like him are indistinguishable from others until something like this happens, potential warnings go unnoticed.

In a way its like a case recently in England, where a man commited suicide by crashing into another car at high speed. In that car was a young boy (6) who died and the mother, a pregnant woman (lost the unborn child) and father in critical condition. It could happen anywhere, its difficult to understand when innocent people get killed like this.

You want to kill someone, kill yourself. You thirst for death is there and you don't kill anyone else, especially innocent people, in your path.

That sounds terrible, but I don't have much sympathy I suppose. I feel like our system fails people so often, but again it comes back sometimes to people not reporting things. Better safe than sorry.

Colm that story is positively sickening... It's amazing people are so messed up.

I really dont mean to offend anyone and I am sorry if this does but... I understand there might be reasons for people doing these things however I hate when they blame what has happened to them. Like child abuse.... Far too many children are abused and it is devasting but that doesnt give you the right to kill people. It annoys me when they use this kind of excuse.

This reminds me of a film, im sorry I cant remember which one, but it was a true story about murderers and it was 2 guys in university and they killed poeple because simply "they could" The were the brainiest in their class and knew how to frame people and get rid of the evidence etc. Was really sickening. They both had good upbringings but they admitted they knew they could do so they said "why not" .. sick.

Reasons are not the same as excuses. I don't think anyone is trying to make excuses for this evil person. It's only human nature, however, to want to know the reasons.

Anna,
Is there anything developing on the booby tracked apartment?