The tragic Aurora, Colorado shooting that claimed the life of at least 12 at the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises has cast a dark shadow over the opening of one of the summer’s most anticipated films. Media outlets have been frantically combing social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, searching for details about the shooter and firsthand accounts of the terrible tragedy.
Real-time updates from movie-goers provide a chilling timeline of the events that unfolded at the Century 16 Theater at the Aurora Town Center Mall last night. It starts with excitement regarding the premiere of the summer’s most anticipated blockbuster and ends with the aftermath of one of the U.S.’s worst shootings.
Among the victims was aspiring sportscaster Jessica Ghawi, using the name Jessica Redfield via Twitter. She playfully tweeted a friend as she waited inside the theater for the film to start. She had miraculously survived a Toronto mall shooting a month before , an event that left seven dead.
The gunman was identified this morning as San Diego native James Holmes. The 24-year-old shooter’s own mother confirmed his identity to the press, hours after he was taken into custody (around 12:40 a.m.), reports San Diego 6. Holmes coldly murdered 12 people at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises and wounded more than 50 before finally being taken into custody. The exceptionally well-equipped Holmes used three guns, canisters containing some kind of chemical, and wore a bullet-proof vest. A search of his nearby apartment yielded the discovery of sophisticated incendiary devices. Though a motive is not known at this time, Holmes acted alone, and the FBI have apparently ruled out ties to terrorist movements.
The Aurora Batman shooting is one of the worst in U.S. history, and certainly the worst tragedy in Colorado since the Columbine Massacre in 1999.
We at IQ will say little, except that justice will be done, and Holmes will get what he deserves.
Here is a timeline of the Aurora, Colorado Dark Knight Rises shooting, provided in real-time by on-scene witnesses of the events.
Jessica Ghawi (Redfield) anticipating seeing the film:
Of course we’re seeing Dark Knight.Redheaded Texan spitfire, people should never argue with me.Maybe I should get in on those NHL talks…
— Jessica Redfield (@JessicaRedfield) July 20, 2012
Redfield’s final, eerie tweet, a conversation with a friend:
@ jessespector MOVIE DOESN’T START FOR 20 MINUTES
— Jessica Redfield (@JessicaRedfield) July 20, 2012
Timeline of updates by Twitter user Zach Eastman:
Everyones dressing up as Batman, im going dressed as Bruce Wayne… Albeit a short stubby unsexy Bruce Wayne #CouldntFindBatmanMaskInTime
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
Have just evacuated our theater in Aurora. There was a shooting in our auditorium. I am safe
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
Apparently 2 were shot at the century aurora 16. There was shooting in our auditorium. Saw people being carried to Ambulance. Scary as shit
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
I know I saw one man with blood running down his hands being carried into a cop car
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
a bit shaken up at the moment. not gonna lie, that was extremely terrifying
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
14 dead, 50 wounded. Very surreal, still in a state of worry. Need to sleep now
— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012
Miscellanous updates:
It’s going to be a good night! (@ Century Aurora 16 for The Dark Knight Rises w/ 6 others) 4sq.com/LwxJY1
— Juliana (@JuJubee__13) July 20, 2012
Shooting at aurora movie theater #freakingout :/
— Juliana (@JuJubee__13) July 20, 2012
Shots fired in the theater. #batman #aurora #colorado
— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012
Oh God, I don’t know what to do.
— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012
My friend is still MIA, will post when I have news.
— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012
Anyone else feel like they are in a bad dream?
— $cott Jones (@scottyj19) July 20, 2012
Home safe now. Walked home. Thought the best thing to do was to get out of there, trying to put everything together.
— Isaac J Ramos (@IsaacJRamos) July 20, 2012
Via Jesse Spector – The last person to talk to Jessica Redfield:
Words are useless. Guns more so. If you ever had any interaction with @ JessicaRedfield , you know the world is much worse off without her.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) July 20, 2012