Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Aurora Colorado theater shooting


Shock, misery, and anger rose after a madman went on a rampage at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Friday night. The meticulously-planned killing spree was carried out with cold efficiency as at least 70 people were shot, 12 of them fatally, in the suburban multiplex with a variety of guns. Several more remain in hospital in critical condition. Details of the gunman's weaponry, body armor, and booby-trapped apartment continue to shock and dismay as more information becomes public. The theater had been showing a midnight premiere of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises". Several of the pictures below depict intense personal grief. Also included here are images of the crime scene, the investigation, and memorial services. -- Lane Turner (32 photos total)

Storm clouds gather above a memorial for the victims in the shooting across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on July 22, 2012. (Ed Andrieski/Associated Press)


An Aurora Police Department detective takes a witness statement following the shooting on July 20, 2012. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post/Associated Press) 


Police patrol outside of a Century 16 movie theater after the shooting on July 20, 2012. (Ed Andrieski/Associated Press) 


A gas mask was marked as the first piece of evidence in a criminal investigation outside the parking lot behind the Century 16 movie after the shooting on July 20,2012. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post/Associated Press) 


The Aurora bomb squad robot is deployed to search the suspect's car behind the theater following the shooting on July 20, 2012. (Evan Semon/Reuters) 

Police investigate the suspect's car outside the movie theater after the shooting on July 20, 2012. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post/Associated Press) 


Tom Sullivan embraces family members outside Gateway High School where he has been searching frantically for his son Alex Sullivan, who celebrated his 27th birthday by going to see "The Dark Knight Rises" movie where the gunman opened fire on July 20, 2012. Alex Sullivan was one of the 12 victims. (Barry Gutierrez/Associated Press) 


Judy Goos (left) hugs her daughter's friend Isaiah Bow, an eyewitnesses, outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning on July 20, 2012. After fleeing the theater, Bow returned to find his girlfriend who turned out to be safe. "Very stupid I know, but I didn't want to leave her in there," says Bow. (Barry Gutierrez/Associated Press) 


Marietta Perkins falls to her knees in sorrow and prayer at a vigil across the street from the movie theater on July 20, 2012. (Robert Ray/Associated Press) 


People attending a candlelight prayer gathering comfort each other on July 20, 2012 across the street from the movie theater. (Ted S. Warren/Associated Press) 


The Colorado Rockies' Jason Giambi looks out to the field as players observe a moment of silence for the victims of the Colorado theater shooting before the start of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on July 20, 2012, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/Associated Press) 


Law enforcement officers prepare to place an explosive device inside the booby-trapped apartment of shooting suspect James Holmes on July 21, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. (Don Emmert/AFP/GettyImages) 


FBI agents investigate in the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes on July 21, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press) 


Teenagers carry flowers to lay at a makeshift memorial across the street from the theater parking lot on July 21, 2012. (Barry Gutierrez/Associated Press) 


People attend a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting on July 22, 2012, at the Aurora Municipal Center campus in Aurora, Colo. (Joe Amon/The Denver Post/Associated Press/Pool) 


People pray during a memorial outside the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) 


Titia Stillwell and Lori Meade embrace and pray with thousands of others during a prayer vigil for the victims of the movie theater mass shooting at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 


Family members react as the names of the 12 victims of the mass shooting are read aloud during a prayer vigil at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Aaron Ontiveroz/Denver Post via Getty Images/Pool) 


Family members react as the names of the 12 victims of the mass shooting are read aloud during a prayer vigil at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Aaron Ontiveroz/Denver Post via Getty Images/Pool) 


A woman is comforted as she is overcome with grief during a prayer vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 


Denise Paba, who lost her 6-year-old niece Veronica Moser, cries during a memorial for victims behind the theater on July 22, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) 


A young man sits on the sidewalk next to a makeshift memorial to the victims of the shooting on July 22, 2012. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 


A woman holds her hands in prayer during a morning mass remembering the victims at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Aurora, Colo. on July 22, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) 


People arrive to a prayer vigil for the victims on July 22, 2012 at the Aurora Municipal Center campus. (Joe Amon/The Denver Post/Associated Press/Pool) 


Shooting victim Rita Mora is surrounded by her family during a visit at Denver Health in Denver, Colo. on July 22, 2012. Mora was shot 3 times, once in the foot and twice in the elbow during the shooting rampage. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post/Associated Press) 


Christine Barton kisses her son Stephen Barton on July 22, 2012 at the Medical Center of Aurora, in Aurora, Colo. Stephen Barton was wounded in the mass shooting. (Robert Ray/Associated Press) 


A Bush Master AR15 assault rifle is displayed at Firing-Line gun shop on July 22, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. The firearm is similar to the one used in the rampage. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) 


A cross is inscribed at a memorial for victims behind the theater on July 22, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) 


Airman 1st Class Andrew Zayatz salutes a cross with the name of Air Force member Jesse Childress at the memorial site for the people killed on July 22, 2012. Zayatz serves currently at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. (Jeremy Papasso/Reuters) 


Mourners create a memorial at the fountain of the Aurora Municipal Center after a prayer vigil for the 12 victims on July 22, 2012. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) 


A woman holds candles during a memorial service outside the Aurora Municipal Center on July 22, 2012. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) 


James Eagan Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court on July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from the mass shooting. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/Associated Press/Pool)