“Batman: The Dark Knight Rises” Shootout in Colorado

The gunman’s entrance began with gas canisters that he threw into the theater. He then began to open fire on the moviegoers. Witnesses described him as wearing a ballistic helmet, bullet-proof vest, gas mask, and throat/lower body armor.

He was also said to have his hair painted red so he could resemble The Joker, Batman’s enemy.

Multiple calls to 911 were placed and police and paramedics arrived as quickly as possible. The theater and areas nearby the theater were evacuated and searched. They found the gunman quite quickly near a car behind the theater. The car contained a gas mask, rifle, and another weapon.

The gunman taken into custody was 24-year-old San Diego student James Holmes. The police have not yet discovered his motive behind the shooting.

While being taken into custody, Holmes mentioned possible explosives in his residence. Bomb squad officers later confirmed Holmes’ nearby flat was “booby-trapped” with “very sophisticated” explosives and they evacuated the area, then proceeded to check the area around the theater for similar explosives.