Justin's Political Corner

(CNN) — A heavily armed gunman tossed tear gas into an Aurora, Colorado move theater, then sprayed the audience with gunfire during an early morning screening of the new Batman movie, authorities said. Twelve people died and 50 were wounded. One of the wounded victims was just 3 months old, according to hospital workers. Police arrested a man believed to be the shooter in a rear parking lot of the theater, Frank Fania, a police spokesman, told CNN. The suspect was not immediately identified, though Fania said he was believed to be in his early 20s. “He did not resist. He did not put up a fight,” Fania said. Police seized a rifle and a handgun from the suspect, and another gun was found in the theater, he said.

Oates said there was no evidence of a second gunman, and FBI spokesman Jason Pack said it did not appear the incident was related to terrorism.

Chaos broke out during the showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” at the Century Aurora 16 theater when the shooting began, police and witnesses said. Witnesses told KUSA that the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire. A federal law enforcement official told CNN the smoke bomb described by witnesses was tear gas. One movie-goer, who was not identified, told KUSA the gunman was wearing a gas mask Some people in the audience thought the thick smoke and gunfire was a special effect accompanying the movie, police and witnesses said. “We just heard a pop, pop, pop, pop,” said Quentin Caldwell, who was attending the Batman showing in an adjacent theater. Cell phone video taken by someone at the theater showed scores of people screaming and fleeing the building. Some had blood on their clothes.

Police initially said 14 people had died, 10 in the theater and four at area hospitals, but revised the death toll to 12 later Friday morning, according to Lanigan. Several people remained in critical condition at area hospitals, however. Of the wounded, at least 20 were being treated at the University of Colorado Hospital, said spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery. All of the wounded suffered from gunshot wounds, which ranged from minor to critical, she said.

h/t: CNN.com

Shooter’s name identified: 

2 federal officials say suspect in Colorado movie theater mass shooting is James Holmes, born December 13, 1987 - @NBCNews

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) July 20, 2012