James Holmes was arrested in Aurora, Colorado after being discovered by police at the scene of one of the worst shooting rampages in recent American history. Twenty minutes into the first screening of the new Batman film The Dark Knight Rises witnesses reported the exit door opened and tear gas was dispersed. The crowd was reportedly confused unsure if it was a promotion stunt related to the movie. Holmes then fired one shot in the air, then he begin shooting the frightened crowd members. At least 12 victims have died and 50 are injured.
When the police arrived they found Holmes near his vehicle where he surrendered without struggle. James Eagan Holmes, 24 years-old, is described as a white male with only a traffic ticket on his record. He is from San Diego, but was in the process of dropping of out medical school at University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver where he was a PhD student.
Investigators have emphasized the attack does not appear to be terrorist related and Holmes acted alone. His Denver apartment building and surrounding area was evacuated as he indicated it was
Police evacuated the area surrounding Holmes’ Denver-area apartment, saying the residence was apparently booby-trapped. They are reporting the police found “buckets of extra ammunition” and chemicals in his apartment.
The military has indicated Holmes is not a current or former military member, however the victims do include members of the military. It is unknown if they are among the injured or the casualties.
Speaking to the nation from the campaign trail in West Palm Beach, Florida, President Barack Obama said:
[Even] as we learn how this happened and who’s responsible, we may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings like this. Such violence, such evil is senseless. It’s beyond reason. But while we will never know fully what causes somebody to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living. The people we lost in Aurora loved and they were loved. They were mothers and fathers; they were husbands and wives; sisters and brothers; sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future and they had dreams that were not yet fulfilled.
