Masked gunman, James Holmes, 24, shoots dead 12 and wounds more than 50 at Batman film premiere in US, police report.
A masked gunman has shot dead 12 people and wounded more than 50 others at a premiere of the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, in the US, police said.
Eyewitnesses reported that a baby was shot at point blank range and some of the victims were children as a single masked gunman went on a rampage.
The gunman, who was quickly arrested, was reportedly wearing body armour and a gas mask and used tear gas in the assault inside the cinema.
The shooting happened at the Century Aurora 16 cinema in a mall in the suburb of Aurora, Denver, Colorado which was packed for a midnight premiere. Two separate devices were also said to have been found in vehicles outside the cinema.
Local reporter Justin Joseph of KDVR said that, according to witnesses, the moment Batman appeared on screen a man wearng body armour and a gas mask, and wielding at least one long gun, stood up and faced the crowd
What witnesses described as two "bombs" - now believed to be tear gas - were thrown into the crowd, he said.
Brenda Stuart, from 850 KOA Radio, said: "People inside tell us they thought it was part of the movie. They heard what they thought were firecrackers, loud bangs and all of a sudden they saw the bullets flying.
"Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.
A man reacts after arriving at the Children's Hospital in Aurora
Police are pictured outside the Century 16 cinema
Police are pictured outside the Century 16 cinema
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