Aurora theater shooting: Part 1

Page 1

Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012

dp

HOT E100° F68° »30A B © the denver post B $1 price may vary outside metro denver

666

Latest updates: Photos, videos and a timeline of the theater attack and the police response. »denverpost.com

MIDNIGHT MASSACRE | AURORA THEATER SHOOTING

“OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN” THE VICTIMS On his birthday, Alex Sullivan was one of 12 killed; 58 were injured

THE SUSPECT James Holmes allegedly threw tear gas, then fired on the movie audience By Jennifer Brown, Joey Bunch, Jordan Steffen and Eric Gorski The Denver Post

Tom Sullivan embraces his wife, Terry, left, and daughter Megan outside Gateway High School in Aurora on Friday. At the time, the family hadn’t heard any news about the fate of son Alex, who was at the movie theater where dozens of people were shot during a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” Friday night, the family learned that Alex, who turned 27 that day, was one of the 12 who died. RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

T H E VICTIMS

Anguish among family, friends of the dead, missing runs deep

Jessica Ghawi was an up-andcoming sportscaster who loved hockey.

The scene. Witnesses describe terror. »2A

Chuck Murphy.

By Karen Augé The Denver Post

Tragic reminder of a big problem. »6A

Jessica Ghawi grew up a hockey fan in football-crazed Texas. The 24-year-old followed that passion to Colorado to forge a career in sports journalism. It probably took her to Toronto, where she walked out of a shopping-mall food court moments before a gunman shot seven people. Writing as Jessica Redfield in a June 5 blog entry, she described how the experience reminded her “how blessed I am for each second I am given.” Early Friday in Aurora, Ghawi did not escape the gunfire. She was among the 12 people killed when James Eagan Holmes allegedly opened fire at a midnight showing of the latest Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.

911 dispatch.

VICTIMS » 6A

Recordings reveal the chaos. »7A

Woody Paige. The reaction throughout Colorado, and the nation was: Oh, no, not again. »8A

aurora» A gunman slipped into a midnight premiere of the new Batman movie through an emergency exit early Friday, tossed two hissing gas canisters and then methodically, calmly walked up the aisle firing, killing 12 people and wounding 58. It was among the worst mass shootings in American history. Terrorized moviegoers, some dragging bloodied bodies, spilled out of the Century Aurora 16 complex at Aurora Town Center trying to escape shortly after 12:30 a.m. Coloradans woke up Friday to news of the tragedy, an eerie echo of a similar massacre 13 years ago in a different Denver suburb, at Columbine High School. Once again, a mass shooting in Colorado was recounted around the world. “Our hearts are broken,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said. “It is beyond the power of words to fully express our sorrow this morning. Coloradans have a remarkable ability to support one another in times of crisis. This is one of those times.” President Barack Obama spoke from Florida, saying he instantly thought about his daughters going to the movies. “We never understand what leads someone to terrorize their fellow human beings like this,” Obama said. “Life is very fragile, and it is precious.” James Eagan Holmes, 24, bought a ticket to the show, “The Dark Knight Rises,” then left theater 9, propping the emergency exit open for his return, investigators said. About 15 minutes into the film, he appeared beside the screen with three guns, dressed in black and wearing a ballistic helmet, gas mask and body shields. Holmes surrendered to authorities, who found his north Aurora apartment SHOOTING » 3A

T H E S U S P EC T

A quiet man who authorities say harbored a deadly plan By Sara Burnett, Jessica Fender, Felisa Cardona and Jeremy P. Meyer The Denver Post

aurora» James Eagan Holmes — now the subject of global headlines — was never one to draw attention to himself. In interviews with people who have known him throughout his life, Holmes was described as a quiet and intelligent person who wouldn’t even acknowledge neighbors in his apartment hallway.

INS I D E Business » 17-21A | Comics » 7-9C | Lottery » 2A | Markets » 18A | Movies » 4C | Obituaries » 27A | Puzzles » 7-8C

Holmes, 24, maintained that quiet demeanor even as police say he was plotting a horrific attack that killed 12 people and injured 58 others in an Aurora movie theater early Friday. He bought four guns and 6,000 rounds of ammunition, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said. He rigged his apartment with what authorities fear are deadly explosives and blared techno music from his stereo in what’s believed to be an attempt to invite more devastation when the door was opened. SUSPECT » 4A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.