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2012 Aurora theater shooting: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 39°42′21″N 104°49′14″W / 39.7059°N 104.8206°W / 39.7059; -104.8206
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{{short description|Mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Infobox civilian attack
| image = The Century 16 theater in Aurora CO - Shooting location.jpg
| title = 2012 Aurora shooting
| image_upright = 1.15
| image = The Century 16 theater in Aurora CO_-_Shooting location.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt = Location of the shootings
| alt = Location of the shootings
| caption = Century 16 at [[Town Center at Aurora]]
| caption = Century 16 at [[Town Center at Aurora]]
| map = Map of 2012 Aurora Shooting.svg
| map = Map of 2012 Aurora Shooting.svg
| map_size =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Aurora marked<br> Top: Map of central Aurora<br>Bottom right: Town Center at Aurora and the location of the Century 16 multiplex
| map_caption = Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Aurora marked<br /> Top: Map of central Aurora<br />Bottom right: Town Center at Aurora and the location of the Century 16 multiplex
| location = 14300 E. Alameda Avenue,<br/>[[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.
| title = 2012 Aurora theater shooting
| location = 14300 East Alameda Avenue,<br/>[[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|39.7059|-104.8206|display=inline,title|scale:50000_region:US_type:event}}
| coordinates = {{coord|39.7059|-104.8206|display=inline,title|scale:50000_region:US_type:event}}
| date = {{nowrap|July 20, 2012}}
| date = {{start date and age|2012|07|20}}
| time = 12:38 a.m. – 12:45 a.m. ([[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]])
| time-begin = {{circa}} 12:38 a.m.
| time-end = {{nowrap|c. 12:45 a.m.}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aurora, Colo theater shooting timeline, facts|url=https://abc7.com/archive/8743134/|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=abc7.com}}</ref>
| timezone =
| timezone = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]] [[UTC−06:00]]
| type = [[Mass shooting]]
| target = Adults watching ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''
| type = [[mass shootings in the United States|Mass shooting]], [[mass murder]], [[tear gas]] attack
| fatalities = 12
| fatalities = 12
| injuries = 70 (58 from gunfire, 4 from tear gas, 8 from fleeing accidents)<ref name="complete list">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/10/officials-release-complete-list-injured-victims-in-aurora-massacre/ |title=Officials release complete list of injured victims in Aurora massacre |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=January 10, 2013 |accessdate=July 4, 2013}}</ref>
| injuries = 70 (58 by gunfire, 4 from tear gas, 8 from fleeing accidents)<ref name="complete list">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/officials-release-complete-list-of-injured-victims-in-aurora-massacre/ |title=Officials release complete list of injured victims in Aurora massacre |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112001817/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/10/officials-release-complete-list-injured-victims-in-aurora-massacre/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| susperp = [[James Eagan Holmes]] (in custody)
| perp = [[James Holmes (mass murderer)|James Eagan Holmes]]
| motive = Disputed:<br />
| weapons =
*Acquiring fame/[[infamy]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2015/09/04/71729618/ | title=Documents: Holmes Wanted to Kill to be Famous | website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref> <small>(prosecution)</small>
* Two [[tear gas]] grenades
*Severe [[Mental disorder|mental illness]] <small>(defense)</small>
* [[Smith & Wesson M&P15]] [[rifle]]
*Undetermined<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-4007772003c946b998ecb6d2ecc9fe12 | title=Psychiatrist: Much is still hidden in theater shooter's mind | website=[[Associated Press News]] | date=August 5, 2018 }}</ref> <small>(psychological evaluation)</small>
* [[Remington Model 870|Remington 870 Express Tactical]] [[shotgun]]
| weapons = * Two [[tear gas|tear gas grenades]]
* Two [[Glock 22]] handguns<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wade |first=Diane A. |url=http://www.bellenews.com/2012/07/23/world/us-news/james-holmes-appears-in-court-being-accused-of-killing-12-people-in-aurora-cinema-shooting/ |title=James Holmes appears in court being accused of killing 12 people in Aurora cinema shooting |publisher=BelleNews |date=July 23, 2012 |accessdate=August 8, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Smith & Wesson M&P15|Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport]] [[semi-automatic rifle]]
* [[Remington Model 870|Remington 870 Express Tactical]] [[12-gauge]] [[shotgun]]
* [[Glock 22]] Gen4 handgun<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wade |first=Diane A. |url=http://www.bellenews.com/2012/07/23/world/us-news/james-holmes-appears-in-court-being-accused-of-killing-12-people-in-aurora-cinema-shooting/ |title=James Holmes appears in court being accused of killing 12 people in Aurora cinema shooting |publisher=BelleNews |date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729215118/http://www.bellenews.com/2012/07/23/world/us-news/james-holmes-appears-in-court-being-accused-of-killing-12-people-in-aurora-cinema-shooting/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| inquiry =
| coroner =
| accused =
| convicted =
| charges =
| litigation =
| verdict = [[Guilty on all counts]]
| convictions = *[[Murder in United States law|First-degree murder]] (24 counts)
*[[Attempted murder|Attempted first-degree murder]] (140 counts)
*Possessing an illegal [[explosive device]]{{Infobox event
| title =
| child = yes
| sentence = [[Back-to-back life sentences|12 consecutive life sentences]] without the possibility of [[parole]] plus 3,318 years
}}
}}
}}


<!-- Per MOS:BOLDTITLE and WP:SBE, neither the article's title nor related text appears in bold. -->On July 20, 2012, a [[Mass murder|mass shooting]] occurred inside of a [[Century Theatres|Century]] [[movie theater]] in [[Aurora, Colorado]], during a [[Midnight movie#Midnight releases|midnight screening]] of the film ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''. A gunman, dressed in tactical clothing, set off [[tear gas]] grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. The sole suspect, [[James Eagan Holmes]], was arrested outside the cinema minutes later.
<!-- Per MOS:BOLDTITLE and WP:SBE, neither the article's title nor related text appears in bold. -->On July 20, 2012, a [[Gun violence|mass shooting]] occurred inside a [[Century Theatres|Century 16]] [[movie theater]] in [[Aurora, Colorado]], United States, during a [[Midnight movie#Midnight releases|midnight screening]] of the film ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''. Dressed in tactical clothing, 24-year-old [[James Holmes (mass murderer)|James Eagan Holmes]] set off [[tear gas]] grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms. Twelve people were killed and 70 others were injured, 58 of them by gunfire.


Holmes was arrested minutes later in his car outside the cinema. Earlier, he had rigged his apartment with homemade explosives and incendiary devices. These were defused by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad a day after the shooting.
==Shooting==
The shooting occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 [[Multiplex (movie theater)|multiplex]] (operated by [[Cinemark Theatres|Cinemark]]), located at the [[Town Center at Aurora]] shopping mall<ref name="denverpost Brown 2012-07-21" /> at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue.<ref name="dp120720a" /> Police said the shooter bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row; about 20 minutes into the film, he left the building through an [[emergency exit]] door, which he propped open with a plastic tablecloth holder.<ref name="James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting">{{cite web|last=Asmar |first=Melanie |url=http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/01/james_holmes_read_a_timeline_o.php |title=James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting |publisher=Blogs.westword.com |date=January 10, 2013 |accessdate=March 1, 2014}}</ref>


Fearing [[copycat crime]]s, movie theaters showing the same film across the United States increased their security. Gun sales increased in Colorado, and [[political debate]]s were generated about [[gun control in the United States]].
He allegedly then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.<ref name="cnn120720m" /><ref name="KABC-timeline" /> About 30 minutes into the film, police say, around 12:30&nbsp;am,<ref name="WSJ Bustillo 2012-07-21" /> he reentered the theater through the exit door. He was dressed in black and wore a [[gas mask]], a [[Individual Integrated Fighting System|load-bearing vest]] (not to be confused with a [[bulletproof vest]]), a [[ballistic helmet]], [[Bulletproofing|bullet-resistant]] [[Leggings#Military leggings|leggings]], a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves.<ref name="denverpost Burnett Fender 2012-07-20" /> Initially, few in the audience considered the masked figure a threat. He appeared to be wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed that the gunman was playing a [[Practical joke|prank]],<ref name="custom" /> while others thought that he was part of a special effects installation set up for the film's premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.<ref name="running" />


Holmes confessed to the shooting but pleaded [[Insanity defense|not guilty by reason of insanity]]. [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]] prosecutors sought the [[death penalty in Colorado|death penalty]]. The trial began on April 27, 2015. On July 16 of that year, Holmes was convicted of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of possessing explosives. On August 7, the jury [[Hung jury#Hung jury in capital sentencing|deadlocked]] on whether to impose the death penalty. On August 26, Holmes was given 12 [[Life imprisonment in the United States|life sentences]], one for every person he killed; he also received 3,318 years for the attempted murders of those he wounded and for rigging his apartment with explosives.<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Neill|first1=Ann|title=Theater shooter Holmes gets 12 life sentences, plus 3,318 years|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/26/us/james-holmes-aurora-massacre-sentencing/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827111606/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/26/us/james-holmes-aurora-massacre-sentencing/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
It was also said that the gunman threw two canisters emitting a gas or smoke, partially obscuring the audience members' vision, making their throats and skin itch, and causing eye irritation.<ref name="Oates" /> He then fired a [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12-gauge]] [[Remington Model 870|Remington 870 Express Tactical]] shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a [[Smith & Wesson M&P15]]<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /> [[semi-automatic rifle]] with a 100-round [[drum magazine]], which malfunctioned after reportedly firing about 45 rounds.<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15" /><ref name="Toohey">{{cite news|title=Paul Toohey Horror inside a heart of Darkness |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |date=July 28, 2012 |pages=52–61}}</ref><ref name="washpost-jam" /> Finally, he fired a [[Glock 22]] 40-caliber handgun.<ref name="cbsnews body armor" /><ref name="cbcjuly20" /> He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.<ref name="running" /> A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in the adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film.<ref name="complete list" /><ref name="denverpost Brown 2012-07-21" /> Witnesses said the multiplex's [[fire alarm system]] began sounding soon after the attack began and staff told people in theater 8 to evacuate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kent|first=William|title=Aurora witnesses describe shooter's entrance, chaos|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57476424/aurora-witnesses-describe-shooters-entrance-chaos/|accessdate=July 24, 2012|newspaper=CBS This Morning|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> One witness said that she was hesitant to leave because someone yelled that there was someone shooting in the lobby and that they should not leave.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Jaime|title=Witness stories from Aurora movie theater shooting|url=http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20120720/NEWS11/307200014/Witness-stories-from-Aurora-movie-theater-shooting|accessdate=July 24, 2012|newspaper=Coloradoan|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref>


==Events==
The first phone calls to emergency services via [[9-1-1]] were made at 12:39&nbsp;am. Police arrived within 90&nbsp;seconds<ref name="alone1" /> and found at least three [[.40 S&W|.40-caliber]] handgun magazines, a shotgun and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater.<ref name="thedenverchannel" /> Some people reported the shooting via [[Twitter|tweets]] or [[text messaging]] rather than calling the police.<ref name="Toohey"/> Sgt. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers on the scene, decided not to wait for ambulances and sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars.<ref>{{cite news|first=John |last=Ingold |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24316871/aurora-police-sergeant-describes-life-saving-theater-shooting |title=Aurora police sergeant describes lifesaving theater-shooting decision |work=The Denver Post |date=October 16, 2013 |accessdate=October 16, 2013}}</ref>
===Shooting===
The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 [[Multiplex (movie theater)|multiplex]] (operated by [[Cinemark Theatres]]), located in the [[Town Center at Aurora]] shopping mall<ref name="denverpost Brown 2012-07-21"/> at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue.<ref name="dp120720a"/> Police said that Holmes bought a [[Movie ticket|ticket]], entered the theater, and sat in the front row. About 20 minutes into the film, he left theater 9 through an emergency exit door beside the movie screen, with direct access to the lightly used parking area at the back of the complex, while propping the door slightly open with a plastic tablecloth holder.<ref name="James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting">{{cite web |last=Asmar |first=Melanie |url=http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/01/james_holmes_read_a_timeline_o.php |title=James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting |publisher=Blogs.westword.com |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222172849/http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/01/james_holmes_read_a_timeline_o.php |url-status=live }}</ref> There were about 400 people inside theater 9.<ref>{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Ingold|first2=Jordan|last2=Steffen|url=http://www.denverpost.com/theater-shooting-trial/ci_27992831/long-awaited-trial-begins-aurora-movie-theater-shooting|title=Long awaited trial begins for Aurora movie theater shooting defendant|work=The Denver Post|date=April 25, 2015|access-date=April 25, 2015|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426190033/http://www.denverpost.com/theater-shooting-trial/ci_27992831/long-awaited-trial-begins-aurora-movie-theater-shooting|url-status=live}}</ref>


Holmes went to his car (which he had parked near the exit door), changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.<ref name="cnn120720m"/><ref name="KABC-timeline"/> About 30 minutes into the movie, police say, around 12:30&nbsp;a.m.,<ref name="WSJ Bustillo 2012-07-21"/> he reentered the theater through the exit door. Holmes was dressed in black and wore a [[gas mask]], a [[Individual integrated fighting system|load-bearing vest]], a [[ballistic helmet]], [[Bulletproofing|bullet-resistant]] [[Leggings#Modern fashion|leggings]], a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector, and tactical gloves.<ref name="denverpost Burnett Fender 2012-07-20"/> He was listening to a techno radio station, which was playing the song "''Becoming Insane''" by [[Infected Mushroom]], through a set of headphones so that he could not hear anything from people in the theater.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fenton |first=Lynne |title=Aurora |year=2022 |publisher=[[Berkley Books]] |isbn=978-0-593-10129-2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com/story/news/2015/04/26/aurora-theater-shooting-trial/26433795/|title=Aurora theater shooting trial adjourns for day|author=Raquel Villanueva and Associated Press, news source|date=April 26, 2015|publisher=[[KUSA (TV)|9News]]|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150428005848/http://www.9news.com/story/news/2015/04/26/aurora-theater-shooting-trial/26433795/|archive-date=April 28, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Initially, few in the audience considered Holmes to be a threat. Some witnesses thought he was wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed he was playing a prank,<ref name="custom"/> while others thought he was part of a special effects setup for the film's premiere, or a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.<ref name="running"/>
About 12:45&nbsp;am, police apprehended Holmes<ref name="KABC-timeline" /> behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. He was initially mistaken as another police officer because of the tactical clothing he was wearing.<ref name="New details emerge in hearing for Colorado theater shooting suspect">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/07/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/ |title=New details emerge in hearing for Colorado theater shooting suspect |publisher=CNN |date=January 8, 2013 |accessdate=March 1, 2014}}</ref> According to two federal officials, he had dyed his hair red and called himself "[[Joker (comics)|the Joker]]", although authorities later declined to confirm this.<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi" /><ref name="ABC 2012-07-21 Joker" /> Three days later, at his first court appearance in [[Centennial, Colorado]], Holmes had reddish-orange hair.<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi" /><ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/james-holmes-claimed-to-be-the-joker-nypd-commish-says-1.3849577 |title=James Holmes claimed to be the Joker, NYPD Commish says |newspaper=Newsday |date=July 20, 2012 |accessdate=February 23, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=James Holmes makes court appearance in Colorado theater shooting|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-aurora-shooting-james-holmes-court-20120723,0,3068345.story|accessdate=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 23, 2012|deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the car, including another Glock 22 handgun.<ref name="latimes Pearce 2012-07-22" /> Following his arrest, he was initially jailed at [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]] Detention Center, under [[suicide watch]].<ref name="Daily News Lysiak Arkin Mcshane 2012-07-21" /> The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses.<ref name="Guardian 12 dead" /> Investigators say that the shooter acted alone and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.<ref name="alone1" />


Holmes reportedly threw one canister towards the left<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.wbir.com/article/news/colo-theater-trial-adjourns-for-day-after-emotional-911-call/51-93442517 |title=Colo. theater trial adjourns for day after emotional 911 call |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2015-04-28 |publisher=[[WBIR-TV]] |access-date=2022-10-27}}</ref> side of the theatre, emitting a gas or smoke, that partially obscured the audience members' vision, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation.<ref name="Oates"/> He fired a [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12-gauge]] [[Remington Model 870|Remington 870 Express Tactical]] shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a [[Smith & Wesson M&P15]]<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15"/> [[semi-automatic rifle]] with a 100-round [[drum magazine]], which eventually malfunctioned.<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15"/><ref name="Toohey">{{cite news|title=Paul Toohey Horror inside a heart of Darkness |newspaper=The Advertiser |date=July 28, 2012 |pages=52–61}}</ref><ref name="washpost-jam"/> Finally, he fired a [[.40 S&W|.40-caliber]] [[Glock 22]] Gen4 handgun.<ref name="cbsnews body armor"/><ref name="cbcjuly20"/> He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.<ref name="running"/> A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film.<ref name="complete list"/><ref name="denverpost Brown 2012-07-21"/> Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began, and staff told people in Theater 8 to evacuate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kent|first=William|title=Aurora witnesses describe shooter's entrance, chaos|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aurora-witnesses-describe-shooters-entrance-chaos/|access-date=July 24, 2012|newspaper=CBS This Morning|date=July 20, 2012|archive-date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723201225/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57476424/aurora-witnesses-describe-shooters-entrance-chaos/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Explosive devices===
When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had [[booby trap|booby-trapped]] his apartment with explosive devices before heading to the movie theater.<ref name="denverpost Burnett Fender 2012-07-20" /> Police then evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, about {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} north of the cinema.<ref name="cbsnews 2" /> The apartment complex is limited to [[University of Colorado School of Medicine|University of Colorado Medical Center]] students, patients, and employees.<ref name="KDVR slideshow" /><ref name="abc120720e" /> One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device wired to the apartment's front entrance, allowing a remotely controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eligon, John, and Santora, Mark|title=Police at Home of Colorado Suspect Disarm Major Threats |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html|accessdate=July 25, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen, and 10 gallons of gasoline.<ref>{{cite news|author=Harlow, Poppy, and Payne, Ed|title=Official: Trap in Colorado suspect's home had 30 homemade grenades, gasoline |url= http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/24/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/|accessdate=July 25, 2012|publisher=CNN|date=July 24, 2012}}</ref>


Holmes fired 76 shots in the theater: 6 from the shotgun, 65 from the semi-automatic rifle, and 5 from the .40-caliber handgun.<ref>Tenser, Phil. [http://www.kjrh.com/news/national/aurora-police-testify-in-james-holmes-trial-240-ballistic-impacts-found-after-theater-shooting Aurora police testify in James Holmes' trial: 240 ballistic impacts found after theater shooting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519024929/http://www.kjrh.com/news/national/aurora-police-testify-in-james-holmes-trial-240-ballistic-impacts-found-after-theater-shooting |date=May 19, 2015 }}, KJRH, May 14, 2015.</ref>
Neighbors reported loud music from the apartment around midnight on the night of the massacre, and one went to his door to tell him she was calling the police; she stated that the door seemed to be unlocked, but she chose not to open it.<ref name="MSNBC Paulson 2012-07-21">{{cite web|last=Paulson |first=Steven K. | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48267833 | title = Detonation and fire possible at Colo. apartment |publisher=MSNBC | accessdate =July 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name="CNN 2012-07-21 neighbor">{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/21/us/colorado-shooting-suspect-apartment/index.html | title = Massacre suspect's neighbor: 'I'm counting my lucky stars' |publisher=CNN | accessdate =July 21, 2012 | date=July 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="thedenverchannel 2012-07-20 loud music">{{cite web | url = http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290627/detail.html | title = Loud Music Used To Lure People to Booby-Trapped Apt |publisher = TheDenverChannel.com | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 21, 2012}}</ref>
A law enforcement official said that a [[Batman]] mask was found inside the apartment.<ref name="NBC News 2012-07-23 Johnson" /> On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment.<ref name="yahoo Flaccus Riccardi" /> Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building.<ref>{{cite news|title=Photos: Residents allowed back into building where alleged shooter lived|url=http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/07/25/photos-residents-allowed-back-to-building-where-alleged-shooter-lived/|work=The Denver Post|accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref>


===Police response===
==Victims==
The first phone calls to emergency services via [[9-1-1]] were made around midnight, prior to his attack, as can be heard in the opening statements of the prosecution, as well as the recorded transcript of his interview with the FBI. At 12:39&nbsp;a.m., after he began shooting, other victims began to call the Police who arrived within 90&nbsp;seconds<ref name="alone1"/> and found three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun, and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater.<ref name="thedenverchannel"/> Some people reported the shooting via [[Twitter]] or text messaging rather than calling the police; officers were already at the theater by the time that the tweets were sent.<ref name="Toohey"/> Ambulances were hindered by chaos and congestion in the parking lot, and they were unable to reach the back of the complex where police had pulled the injured out through the emergency exit doors of Theatre 9. Sgt. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene, sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24316871/aurora-police-sergeant-describes-life-saving-theater-shooting |title=Aurora police sergeant describes lifesaving theater-shooting decision |work=The Denver Post |date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017110506/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24316871/aurora-police-sergeant-describes-life-saving-theater-shooting |url-status=live }}</ref>
Eighty-two people were shot or otherwise wounded,<ref name="70 victims in mass shooting">

{{cite news | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims the Largest Mass Shooting | url = http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | accessdate =July 21, 2012 | work = Good Morning America | date = July 20, 2012 | first1 = Clayton |last1=Sandell | first2 = Kevin |last2=Dolak |first3=Colleen |last3=Curry
At about 12:45&nbsp;a.m., police officer Jason Oviatt apprehended Holmes<ref name="KABC-timeline"/><ref name="ColoradoOfficer">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/colorado-police-officer-says-movie-theater-gunman-very-165639024.html|title=Colorado police officer says movie theater gunman was 'very calm'|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=April 30, 2015|archive-date=May 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503091255/http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-police-officer-says-movie-theater-gunman-very-165639024.html|url-status=live}}</ref> behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. Because of his tactical clothing, Holmes was at first mistaken for another police officer.<ref name="New details emerge in hearing for Colorado theater shooting suspect">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/07/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/ |title=New details emerge in hearing for Colorado theater shooting suspect |publisher=CNN |date=January 8, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142134/http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/07/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was described as being calm and "disconnected" during his arrest.<ref name="ColoradoOfficer"/> Two federal officials said that Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "[[Joker (character)|The Joker]]", although authorities later declined to confirm this.<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi"/><ref name="ABC 2012-07-21 Joker"/> Three days later, at his first court appearance in [[Centennial, Colorado]], Holmes's hair appeared reddish-orange.<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi"/><ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/james-holmes-claimed-to-be-the-joker-nypd-commish-says-1.3849577 |title=James Holmes claimed to be the Joker, NYPD Commish says |newspaper=Newsday |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2013 |archive-date=January 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109021119/http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/james-holmes-claimed-to-be-the-joker-nypd-commish-says-1.3849577 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=James Holmes makes court appearance in Colorado theater shooting |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-aurora-shooting-james-holmes-court-20120723,0,3068345.story |access-date=August 21, 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730001145/http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-aurora-shooting-james-holmes-court-20120723%2C0%2C3068345.story |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Later, the Colorado district attorney who prosecuted Holmes said he never called himself The Joker, and blamed the federal officials for the rumor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=2 October 2019 |title=The Joker Didn't Inspire the Aurora Shooter, but the Rumor Won't Go Away |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-aurora-shooting-rumor |access-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023223114/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-aurora-shooting-rumor |url-status=live }}</ref> The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the shooter's car, including another Glock 22 handgun.<ref name="latimes Pearce 2012-07-22"/> Holmes was found carrying a first-aid kit and [[spike strip]]s, which he later admitted in an interview he had planned to use if police either shot at or chased him.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sadie|last=Gurman|url=https://news.yahoo.com/psychiatrist-childs-death-saddens-colorado-theater-shooter-170800641.html#|title=On video, theater gunman says killings got him 'value units'|work=Yahoo News|date=June 1, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2015|archive-date=June 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602181648/http://news.yahoo.com/psychiatrist-childs-death-saddens-colorado-theater-shooter-170800641.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57477132/30-hospitalized-in-colo-mass-shooting/ 30 hospitalized in Colo. mass shooting], ''[[CBS News]]'' (July 21, 2012)</ref> reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57477596/colorado-massacre-could-have-been-worse-reports/ |publisher=CBS News |title=Colorado Massacre Could Have Been Worse}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kptv.com/story/19071381/james-eagan-holmes-court-appearance-dark-knight-rises-shooting |publisher=KPTV |title=Obama offers condolences, community grieves in vigil for DKR shooting victims}}</ref> Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, and eight others injured themselves while fleeing the theater.<ref name="complete list" /> The massacre is also the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the [[Columbine High School massacre]] on April 20, 1999.<ref name="Welsh072012"/>
Following his arrest, Holmes was initially jailed at the [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]] Detention Center, under [[suicide watch]].<ref name="Daily News Lysiak Arkin Mcshane 2012-07-21"/> The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting.<ref name="Guardian 12 dead"/> Speaking on behalf of himself and [[FBI]] agent James Yacone, who was in charge of the investigation, Aurora Police Chief [[Dan Oates]] said he was confident that the shooter acted alone.<ref name="alone1"/>

===Discovery of explosive devices===
[[File:Aurora Booby-trapped Apt Response5.jpg|thumb|A view of the multi-jurisdictional effort to clear the shooter's apartment of booby traps. The corner of his apartment building is visible between the white van and the [[fire truck]]. Note the white-painted bomb-disposal trailer.]]
When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had [[booby trap|booby-trapped]] his apartment with explosive devices.<ref name="denverpost Burnett Fender 2012-07-20"/> Police evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, which was about {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} north of the cinema.<ref name="cbsnews 2"/> Holmes' apartment complex is limited to [[University of Colorado School of Medicine|University of Colorado Medical Center]] students, patients, and employees.<ref name="KDVR slideshow"/><ref name="abc120720e"/> One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device that was wired to the apartment's front door, allowing a remote-controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Eligon, John|author2=Santora, Mark|title=Police at Home of Colorado Suspect Disarm Major Threats|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html|access-date=July 25, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 21, 2012|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724083839/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen and filled with at least {{convert|30|USgal|L|abbr=on}} of gasoline.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Harlow, Poppy|author2=Payne, Ed|title=Official: Trap in Colorado suspect's home had 30 homemade grenades, gasoline|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/24/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/|access-date=July 25, 2012|publisher=CNN|date=July 24, 2012|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724112911/http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/24/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Neighbors reported loud music from the apartment around midnight on the night of the massacre, and one went to his door to tell him she was calling the police; she said the door seemed to be unlocked, but she chose not to open it.<ref name="MSNBC Paulson 2012-07-21">{{cite web|last=Paulson |first=Steven K. | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48267833 | title = Detonation and fire possible at Colo. apartment |publisher=MSNBC | access-date =July 21, 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="CNN 2012-07-21 neighbor">{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/21/us/colorado-shooting-suspect-apartment/index.html | title = Massacre suspect's neighbor: 'I'm counting my lucky stars' | publisher = CNN | access-date = July 21, 2012 | date = July 22, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721055304/http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/21/us/colorado-shooting-suspect-apartment/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="thedenverchannel 2012-07-20 loud music">{{cite web | url = http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290627/detail.html | title = Loud Music Used To Lure People to Booby-Trapped Apt | publisher = TheDenverChannel.com | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722224513/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290627/detail.html | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

A police official said a [[Batman]] mask was found in the apartment.<ref name="NBC News 2012-07-23 Johnson"/> On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment.<ref name="yahoo Flaccus Riccardi"/> Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building.<ref>{{cite news|title=Photos: Residents allowed back into building where alleged shooter lived|url=http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/07/25/photos-residents-allowed-back-to-building-where-alleged-shooter-lived/|work=The Denver Post|access-date=July 26, 2012|archive-date=July 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728024527/http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/07/25/photos-residents-allowed-back-to-building-where-alleged-shooter-lived/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Victims}}Casualties==
<!-- This Anchor tag serves to provide a permanent target for incoming section links. Please do not move it out of the section heading, even though it disrupts edit summary generation (you can manually fix the edit summary before you save your changes). Please do not modify it, even if you modify the section title. It is always best to anchor an old section header that has been changed so that links to it won't be broken. See [[Template:Anchor]] for details. (This text: [[Template:Anchor comment]]) -->Twelve fatalities were reported along with 70 injuries.<ref name="70 victims in mass shooting">{{cite news | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims the Largest Mass Shooting | url = http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | access-date = July 21, 2012 | work = Good Morning America | date = July 20, 2012 | first1 = Clayton | last1 = Sandell | first2 = Kevin | last2 = Dolak | first3 = Colleen | last3 = Curry | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721004136/http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/30-hospitalized-in-colo-mass-shooting/ 30 hospitalized in Colo. mass shooting], ''CBS News'' (July 21, 2012)</ref> Seventy were hit by bullets, and were reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57477596/colorado-massacre-could-have-been-worse-reports/ |work=CBS News |title=Colorado Massacre Could Have Been Worse |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020080516/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57477596/colorado-massacre-could-have-been-worse-reports |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kptv.com/story/19071381/james-eagan-holmes-court-appearance-dark-knight-rises-shooting |publisher=KPTV |title=Obama offers condolences, community grieves in vigil for DKR shooting victims |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029012502/http://www.kptv.com/story/19071381/james-eagan-holmes-court-appearance-dark-knight-rises-shooting |url-status=live }}</ref> This figure was not surpassed until the 2016 [[Orlando nightclub shooting]], which killed 49 people and injured 58 others for a combined total of 107 casualties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pulse-nightclub-shooting-orlando/|title=50 dead, Islamic terrorism tie eyed in Orlando gay bar shooting|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203342/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pulse-nightclub-shooting-orlando/|url-status=live}}</ref> Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater.<ref name="complete list"/> The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the [[Columbine High School massacre]] on April 20, 1999.<ref name="Welsh072012"/>


===Fatalities===
===Fatalities===
Ten victims died at the scene and two more were pronounced dead in local hospitals. The people murdered were:<ref name="bradenton. 2012-07-23 Peipert"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/18th_Judicial_District/18th_Courts/12CR1522/001/1102013%20Order%20C19.pdf|title=People of the State of Colorado v. James Eagan Holmes|work=State of Colorado Judicial Department|year=2013|access-date=May 21, 2015|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527072121/https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/18th_Judicial_District/18th_Courts/12CR1522/001/1102013%20Order%20C19.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
Twelve people were killed in the shooting. Ten died at the scene and two more in local hospitals. Those killed were:<ref name="bradenton. 2012-07-23 Peipert" />


{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
* Jonathan Blunk, age 26
* Jonathan Blunk, 26
* Alexander J. Boik, age 18
* Alexander J. Boik, 18
* Jesse Childress, age 29
* Jesse Childress, 29
{{col-break}}
* Gordon Cowden, age 51
* Jessica Ghawi, age 24
* Gordon Cowden, 51
* Jessica Ghawi (also known as Jessica Redfield), 24<ref>{{cite web |first=Barry |last=Petchesky |url=http://deadspin.com/5927782/why-jessica-ghawi-wrote-under-the-name-redfield-and-other-moving-stories-from-the-shooting-victims-colleagues |title=Why Jessica Ghawi Wrote Under The Name Redfield: Moving Stories From The Shooting Victim's Colleagues |website=[[Deadspin]] |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216000042/http://deadspin.com/5927782/why-jessica-ghawi-wrote-under-the-name-redfield-and-other-moving-stories-from-the-shooting-victims-colleagues |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nicole |last=Auerbach |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/07/15/jessica-redfield-ghawi-sports-journalist-aurora-colorado-shooting/2519189/# |title=Remembering aspiring sports journalist a year after Aurora shooting |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=July 15, 2013 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006030701/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/07/15/jessica-redfield-ghawi-sports-journalist-aurora-colorado-shooting/2519189/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* John Larimer, age 27
* John Larimer, 27
{{col-break}}
* Matt McQuinn, 27
* Micayla Medek, 23
* Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6
{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
* Matt McQuinn, age 27
* Alex Sullivan, 27
* Alexander C. Teves, 24
* Micayla Medek, age 23
* Rebecca Wingo, 32
* Veronica Moser-Sullivan, age 6
* Alex Sullivan, age 27
* Alexander C. Teves, age 24
* Rebecca Wingo, age 31
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
Ghawi had survived the [[Toronto Eaton Centre#2012 shooting|Eaton Centre shooting]] in Toronto that occurred a month prior.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-20 |title=Jessica Ghawi: Victim of Colorado theatre shooting was also at Eaton Centre shooting |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/07/20/jessica_ghawi_victim_of_colorado_theatre_shooting_was_also_at_eaton_centre_shooting.html |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}</ref>

Almost two months earlier, Jessica Ghawi narrowly avoided [[Eaton centre shooting|a shooting at the Eaton Centre]] in [[Toronto]], which killed two people and injured several others.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coughlan |first=Maggie |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20613537,00.html |title='Dark Knight Rises' Shooting Victim Jessica Ghawi Remembered for Enthusiasm, Sense of Humor |work=People |date=July 20, 2012 |accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref>


===Injuries===
===Injuries===
The youngest person injured during the shooting was a four-month-old boy who was not shot.<ref name="News7Victims">{{cite web|title=Theater Shooting Victims Are 4 Months Old To Adults|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/theater-shooting-victims-are-4-months-old-to-adults|publisher=[[KMGH-TV]]|accessdate=September 30, 2013|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, was critically injured in the shooting and [[Miscarriage|miscarried]] a week after the attack.<ref name="misccariagecbsnews">{{cite news|title=Miscarriage won't affect charges in Colo. shooting|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57482669/miscarriage-wont-affect-charges-in-colo-shooting/|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=July 30, 2012|date=July 30, 2012|deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>
The injured were treated at [[Children's Hospital Colorado]], [[Denver Health Medical Center]], [[The Medical Center of Aurora]], [[Parker Adventist Hospital]], [[Rose Medical Center]], [[Swedish Medical Center (Colorado)|Swedish Hospital]], and [[University of Colorado Hospital|University Hospital]].<ref name="News7Victims">{{cite web|title=Theater Shooting Victims Are 4 Months Old To Adults|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/theater-shooting-victims-are-4-months-old-to-adults|publisher=[[KMGH-TV]]|access-date=September 30, 2013|date=July 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110200507/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/theater-shooting-victims-are-4-months-old-to-adults|archive-date=January 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=September 2018}} On July 25, three of the five hospitals treating victims announced they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital bills forgiven for Colorado shooting victims|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0725/Hospital-bills-forgiven-for-Colorado-shooting-victims|work=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=September 13, 2012|date=July 25, 2012|archive-date=July 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731062217/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0725/Hospital-bills-forgiven-for-Colorado-shooting-victims|url-status=live}}</ref>


Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, suffered critical injuries after being shot in the chest. She was rendered a [[Paraplegia|paraplegic]]. She [[Miscarriage|miscarried]] a week after the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-holmes-trial-prosecutors-wrap-up-case/|title=Woman who lost everything caps prosecution in Holmes trial|work=CBS News|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=June 19, 2015|archive-date=June 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620082520/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-holmes-trial-prosecutors-wrap-up-case/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The injured were treated at [[Children's Hospital Colorado]], [[Denver Health Medical Center]], [[The Medical Center of Aurora]], [[Parker Adventist Hospital]], [[Rose Medical Center]], [[Swedish Medical Center (Colorado)|Swedish Hospital]], and [[University of Colorado Hospital|University Hospital]].<ref name="News7Victims"/> On July 25, three of the five hospitals treating victims announced that they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital bills forgiven for Colorado shooting victims
|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0725/Hospital-bills-forgiven-for-Colorado-shooting-victims|work=The Christian Science Monitor|accessdate=September 13, 2012|date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>


Caleb Medley, the last victim discharged, left University Hospital on September 12. He had serious [[brain damage]] and an injury to his right eye from a shotgun blast to the head and underwent three [[brain surgeries]]. He required a [[feeding tube]], had severely impaired movement, and could no longer speak.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26181632/comedy-helps-pull-caleb-medley-through-tragedy-aurora|title=Comedy helps pull Caleb Medley through tragedy of Aurora shootings|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=July 19, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2015|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527041635/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26181632/comedy-helps-pull-caleb-medley-through-tragedy-aurora|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/last-theater-shooting-vic_0_n_1879612.html|title=Caleb Medley Recovery: Last Aurora Shooting Victim Leaves Colo. Hospital|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=September 13, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203162010/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/last-theater-shooting-vic_0_n_1879612.html|archive-date=February 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-verdict-20150716-story.html#page=1|title=James Holmes guilty of murder in Colorado theater massacre; jury to weigh death penalty|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 16, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2015|first=Maria L.|last=La Ganga|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717045745/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-verdict-20150716-story.html#page=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shooting Victims Gain Veto Power in Donation Distribution |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31403037/detail.html|work=The Denver Channel|accessdate=September 13, 2012|date=August 31, 2012}}</ref> In September, victims and their families received surveys asking about their preferences for how collected funds should be distributed, either by dividing it equally among victims or through a needs-assessment process.<ref name="victimsurvey">{{cite news|title=Aurora movie theater shooting victims to respond to surveys|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21530226/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-victims-respond-surveys|work=The Denver Post|accessdate=September 13, 2012|date=September 13, 2012|first=Electa|last=Draper}}</ref>


The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shooting Victims Gain Veto Power in Donation Distribution|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31403037/detail.html|work=The Denver Channel|access-date=September 13, 2012|date=August 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902213901/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31403037/detail.html|archive-date=September 2, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September, victims and their families received surveys asking about their preferences for how collected funds should be distributed, either by dividing it equally among victims or through a needs-assessment process.<ref name="victimsurvey">{{cite news|title=Aurora movie theater shooting victims to respond to surveys|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21530226/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-victims-respond-surveys|work=The Denver Post|access-date=September 13, 2012|date=September 13, 2012|first=Electa|last=Draper|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915003959/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21530226/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-victims-respond-surveys|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced each claimant will receive $220,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Theater shooting: Payments from Aurora victim fund set, families of the dead get $220,000 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22012891/payments-from-aurora-victim-fund-set-families-dead|work=The Denver Post|accessdate=November 17, 2012|first=Electa|last=Draper|date=November 16, 2012}}</ref>

On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced that each family of the dead would receive $220,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Theater shooting: Payments from Aurora victim fund set, families of the dead get $220,000|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22012891/payments-from-aurora-victim-fund-set-families-dead|work=The Denver Post|access-date=November 17, 2012|first=Electa|last=Draper|date=November 16, 2012|archive-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117065640/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22012891/payments-from-aurora-victim-fund-set-families-dead|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Court proceedings==
==Court proceedings==
{{see also|James Holmes (mass murderer)#Detention and pretrial court appearances}}
[[File:James Holmes, cropped.jpg|thumb|right|The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, shown with his hair dyed in a booking photo released July 23, 2012 by Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department.]]

Holmes' booking photo was released, and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7415886n "James Holmes appears 'dazed' in court"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719231712/http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7415886n |date=July 19, 2013 }}, CBS News, July 23, 2012, Quote: "During his first court appearance on Monday, the 24-year-old frequently closed his eyes and appeared sleepy or dazed before the judge."</ref><ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/james-holmes-mugshot-theater-shooting_n_1695461.html James Holmes Mugshot: Aurora Shooting Suspect's Booking Picture Released" (PHOTO)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919143843/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/james-holmes-mugshot-theater-shooting_n_1695461.html |date=September 19, 2017 }}, ''The Huffington Post'', July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.thonline.com/news/national_world/article_f4be532b-9826-56fa-b293-5b8266cea402.html Alex Brandon (AP), "Again appearing dazed in court, Holmes charged| Prosecutors and defense attorneys spar over whether a notebook that he reportedly sent to a psychiatrist is privileged information"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323062405/https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/national_world/article_f4be532b-9826-56fa-b293-5b8266cea402.html |date=March 23, 2021 }}, ''Dubuque Telegraph Herald'', July 31, 2012, Quote: "James Holmes appeared just as dazed as he did in his first court hearing after the deadly Colorado movie theater massacre."</ref>

On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes, including 24 counts of [[Murder (United States law)#Degrees|first-degree murder]], 116 counts of [[attempted murder|attempted first-degree murder]] and one count of illegal possession of explosives. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand the opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Riccardi|first=Nicholas|title=Colo. Suspect Charges: Murder, Attempted Murder|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/colorado-shooting-suspect-faces-formal-charges|work=ABC News|access-date=July 31, 2012|author2=Banda, P. Solomon|date=July 30, 2012|archive-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801014749/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/colorado-shooting-suspect-faces-formal-charges|url-status=live}}</ref> Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who was the trial judge overseeing the case, placed a [[gag order]] on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. Media organizations challenged the sealing of the court file.<ref>{{cite news|last=Winter|first=Jane|title=Colorado movie massacre suspect to be formally charged|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/colorado-movie-massacre-suspect-hit-with-murder-attempted-murder-charges|publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=July 30, 2012|date=July 30, 2012|archive-date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730164715/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/30/colorado-movie-massacre-suspect-to-be-formally-charged/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he is [[mentally ill]] and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. The disclosure was made at a court hearing in [[Centennial, Colorado]], where news media organizations asked a judge to unseal court documents in the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Banda|first=Solomon|title=Lawyers: Colo. Shooting Suspect is Mentally ill|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/news-orgs-seek-colorado-shooting-records-court-16965030|work=ABC News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 9, 2012|access-date=August 9, 2012|archive-date=August 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809154057/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/news-orgs-seek-colorado-shooting-records-court-16965030|url-status=live}}</ref> Prosecutors alleged on August 24, 2012, that Holmes told a classmate he wanted to kill people four months before the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-24/james-holmes-colorado-shooting-threats/57289812/1|title=Prosecutors: Colo. suspect James Holmes made threat in March|work=USA Today|access-date=August 24, 2012|date=August 24, 2012|archive-date=August 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825013646/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-24/james-holmes-colorado-shooting-threats/57289812/1|url-status=live}}</ref>

A judge ruled on August 30 that a notebook written by Holmes, in which he allegedly described a violent attack, was covered by [[physician–patient privilege]] because it was addressed to his psychiatrist. This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. Prosecutors dropped their request for access to the notebook on September 20, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aurora prosecutors drop fight for James Holmes' notebook|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/20/aurora-shooting-james-holmes-notebook?newsfeed=true|agency=Associated Press|work=The Guardian|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=September 22, 2012|location=London|archive-date=May 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529124925/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/20/aurora-shooting-james-holmes-notebook?newsfeed=true|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing, the public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order. It began on January 7. Prosecutors offered their case as to why the trial should proceed, and defense lawyers argued that it should not. At the conclusion, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130129061816/http://news.msn.com/us/colo-theater-shooting-lawyers-head-back-to-court "Colorado Theater Shooting Lawyers Head Back to Court"], MSN, January 3, 2013</ref>{{clarify|reason=What did the judge decide?|date=January 2014}}

Also on January 7, lawyers for both sides argued whether to admit four unspecified prescription bottles and immunization records investigators had seized from Holmes' apartment when they searched it in July 2012, considering doctor-patient confidentiality laws. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep the items.<ref name="prescriptions">{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22323293/aurora-theater-shooting-cops-took-pill-bottles-from |title=Aurora theater shooting: Cops took pill bottles from Holmes' apartment |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]] |date=January 7, 2013 |first=John |last=Ingold |access-date=January 8, 2013 |archive-date=January 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109142058/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22323293/aurora-theater-shooting-cops-took-pill-bottles-from |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty.<ref name="plea">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/28/aurora-cinema-massacre-plead-guilty |title=Aurora cinema massacre suspect James Holmes offers to plead guilty |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 28, 2013 |location=London |access-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408030838/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/28/aurora-cinema-massacre-plead-guilty |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 1, the prosecution announced it had declined the offer. Arapahoe County district attorney George Brauchler said: "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death."<ref name="death_penalty">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/01/james-holmes-prosecutors-death-penalty |title=James Holmes prosecutors seek death penalty against Aurora suspect |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 1, 2013 |date=April 1, 2013 |location=London |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904101025/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/01/james-holmes-prosecutors-death-penalty |url-status=live }}</ref>


Jury selection started on January 20, 2015.<ref name="Judge considering another James Holmes trial delay">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/judge-considering-another-james-holmes-trial-delay/|title=Judge considering another James Holmes trial delay|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=March 20, 2015|access-date=December 17, 2014|archive-date=December 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209063157/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/08/judge-could-consider-trial-delay-as-attorneys-in-colorado-theater-shooting-head/|url-status=live}}</ref> It ended on April 15, 2015.<ref name="jury picked"/>
Holmes' booking photo was released and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7415886n "James Holmes appears 'dazed' in court"], CBS News, July 23, 2012, Quote: "During his first court appearance on Monday, the 24-year-old frequently closed his eyes and appeared sleepy or dazed before the judge."
</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/james-holmes-mugshot-theater-shooting_n_1695461.html James Holmes Mugshot: Aurora Shooting Suspect's Booking Picture Released" (PHOTO)], ''Huffington Post'', July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.thonline.com/news/national_world/article_f4be532b-9826-56fa-b293-5b8266cea402.html Alex Brandon (AP), "Again appearing dazed in court, Holmes charged| Prosecutors and defense attorneys spar over whether a notebook that he reportedly sent to a psychiatrist is privileged information"], ''Dubuque Telegraph Herald'', July 31, 2012, Quote:
"James Holmes appeared just as dazed as he did in his first court hearing after the deadly Colorado movie theater massacre."</ref>


===Trial===
On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes that included 24 counts of [[Murder (United States law)#Degrees of murder in the United States|first degree murder]] and 116 counts of [[attempted murder]]. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand the opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Riccardi|first=Nicholas|title=Colo. Suspect Charges: Murder, Attempted Murder|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/colorado-shooting-suspect-faces-formal-charges|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=July 31, 2012|author2=Banda, P. Solomon|date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who is the trial judge overseeing the case, has placed a [[gag order]] on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. Media organizations are challenging the sealing of the court file.<ref>{{cite news|last=Winter|first=Jane|title=Colorado movie massacre suspect to be formally charged|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/30/colorado-movie-massacre-suspect-to-be-formally-charged/|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=July 30, 2012|date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>
{{see also|James Holmes (mass murderer)#Trial}}
The trial started on April 27, 2015. The jury consisted of 19 women and five men, two of whom had connections to the [[Columbine High School massacre]]. Arapahoe County prosecutors said that Holmes was sane during the shooting and intended to kill all 400 people in the theater, while Holmes' lawyers said he had a [[psychotic episode]] during the attack.<ref>Coffman, Keith. [https://news.yahoo.com/colorado-movie-gunman-not-faking-psychosis-defense-witness-211820751.html Colorado movie gunman not faking psychosis, defense witness says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305122249/http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-movie-gunman-not-faking-psychosis-defense-witness-211820751.html |date=March 5, 2016 }}, [[Yahoo News]], June 2, 2015.</ref>


On May 7, an [[FBI]] agent displayed pieces of evidence at the trial, including Holmes' body armor, an arsenal of weapons, unfired ammunition, and a helmet with strands of his dyed orange hair.<ref name="jury picked">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/details-emerge-about-jury-picked-for-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-192409225.html|title=Details emerge about jury picked for Colorado theater shooting trial|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=April 15, 2015|access-date=April 15, 2015|archive-date=April 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419174208/http://news.yahoo.com/details-emerge-about-jury-picked-for-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-192409225.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Sadie|last=Gurman|url=https://news.yahoo.com/facts-emotion-turns-colorado-theater-shooter-trial-171106993.html|title=Facts, emotions take turn at Colorado theater shooting trial|publisher=Yahoo! News|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 7, 2015|access-date=January 14, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144334/http://news.yahoo.com/facts-emotion-turns-colorado-theater-shooter-trial-171106993.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Jurors examined the evidence for thirty minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/aurora-theater-shooting-trial-jurors-see-james-holmes-arsenal/|title=Aurora theater trial jurors see James Holmes' evidence|work=Aurora Sentinel|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518064422/http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/aurora-theater-shooting-trial-jurors-see-james-holmes-arsenal/|url-status=live}}</ref> Holmes was represented by the [[Colorado State Public Defender]].<ref name=PD>{{cite web|last1=Tenser|first1=Phil|title=Aurora movie theater shooting: Attorneys who'll be trying to prove James Holmes' guilt or innocence|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/movie-theater-shooting/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-attorneys-wholl-be-trying-to-prove-james-holmes-guilt-or-innocence|publisher=ABC 7|access-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723131437/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/movie-theater-shooting/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-attorneys-wholl-be-trying-to-prove-james-holmes-guilt-or-innocence|archive-date=July 23, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he is [[mentally ill]] and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. The disclosure was made at a court hearing in [[Centennial, Colorado]], where news media organizations asked a judge to unseal court documents in the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Banda|first=Solomon|title=Lawyers: Colo. Shooting Suspect is Mentally ill|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/news-orgs-seek-colorado-shooting-records-court-16965030#.UDFRKN2PVCo |agency=Associated Press|date=August 9, 2012|accessdate=August 9, 2012}}</ref> Prosecutors alleged on August 24, 2012, that Holmes told a classmate that he wanted to kill people four months before the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-24/james-holmes-colorado-shooting-threats/57289812/1|title=Prosecutors: Colo. suspect James Holmes made threat in March|work=USA Today|accessdate=August 24, 2012|date=August 24, 2012}}</ref>


On May 26, details of Holmes' notebook, reportedly found in a university mail room addressed to his psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, were entered into evidence at the trial for the first time. The notebook elaborated on Holmes' obsession to kill since ten years prior to the shooting, his dissatisfaction with life and finding work, as well as health issues. It also had details of his planning for the shooting, which prosecutors said indicated Holmes premeditated the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kdvr.com/2015/05/26/raw-video-theater-shooting-notebook-details-aired-for-1st-time/|title=Aurora theater shooting notebook details aired for first time|publisher=[[KDVR]]|date=May 26, 2015|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527065658/http://kdvr.com/2015/05/26/raw-video-theater-shooting-notebook-details-aired-for-1st-time/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/26/us/james-holmes-trial-notebook/|title=James Holmes' notebook read to jury in Colorado movie massacre trial|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=May 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530022329/http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/26/us/james-holmes-trial-notebook/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 27, Dr. William Reid, a court-appointed psychiatrist, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane. Reid and another doctor evaluated Holmes in December 2013 and determined that he understood what he was doing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Theater-shooting-prosecutors-build-case-that-6290916.php|title=Psychiatrist: Colorado shooter knew what he was doing|publisher=SFGate|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528212206/http://m.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Theater-shooting-prosecutors-build-case-that-6290916.php|archive-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref> On June 8, a second psychiatrist, Jeffrey Metzner, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane during the shooting, and suffers from [[schizoaffective disorder]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Coffman|url=http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0OO2J720150608?irpc=932|title=Second psychiatrist concludes Colorado cinema gunman was sane|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=June 8, 2015|newspaper=Reuters|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612014528/http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0OO2J720150608?irpc=932|url-status=live}}</ref>
A judge ruled on August 30 that a notebook written by Holmes, in which he allegedly described a violent attack, was covered by [[physician–patient privilege]], as he had discussed it with his psychiatrist. This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. Prosecutors eventually dropped their request to gain access to the notebook on September 20, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aurora prosecutors drop fight for James Holmes' notebook|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/20/aurora-shooting-james-holmes-notebook?newsfeed=true|agency=Associated Press|work=The Guardian|date=September 20, 2012|accessdate=September 22, 2012|location=London}}</ref> Due to [[suicide]] attempts made by Holmes (see the article on James Holmes), Judge Sylvester agreed to postpone proceedings until December 2012.


On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/judge-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-190602101.html|title=Judge in Colorado theater shooting trial dismisses 3rd juror|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=June 9, 2015|access-date=June 9, 2015|archive-date=June 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609231420/http://news.yahoo.com/judge-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-190602101.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the following week, two additional jurors were dismissed; the first due to emotional problems following the shooting of a family member, the second for recognizing a survivor who was wounded in the massacre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/theater-shooters-ex-didnt-see-future-him-071805977.html#|title=Theater shooter's ex asked him to see therapist|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612214920/http://news.yahoo.com/theater-shooters-ex-didnt-see-future-him-071805977.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Keith|last=Coffman|url=https://news.yahoo.com/judge-dismisses-fifth-juror-colorado-movie-massacre-trial-154150131.html|title=Judge dismisses fifth juror in Colorado movie theater shooting trial|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=June 17, 2015|access-date=June 17, 2015|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621052718/http://news.yahoo.com/judge-dismisses-fifth-juror-colorado-movie-massacre-trial-154150131.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the crucial preliminary hearing- the first officially sanctioned look for the people at the evidence, due to the gag order. The hearing was scheduled to begin on January 7. At the hearing, prosecutors offered their case as to why the trial should proceed, and defense lawyers argued that it should not. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial.<ref>[http://news.msn.com/us/colo-theater-shooting-lawyers-head-back-to-court "Colorado Theater Shooting Lawyers Head Back to Court"], MSN, January 3, 2013</ref>{{clarify|reason=What did the judge decide?|date=January 2014}}


On July 9, Judge [[Carlos Samour]] asked Holmes if he would testify in court, and advised him of his rights to do so. Holmes chose not to testify.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Paul|last1=Verccamen|first2=Steve|last2=Almasy|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/09/us/james-holmes-trial-aurora-colorado-movie-theater-shooting/|title=Movie theater gunman says he will not testify|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2015|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717014950/http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/09/us/james-holmes-trial-aurora-colorado-movie-theater-shooting/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Also on January 7, lawyers for both sides argued whether to admit four unspecified prescription bottles and immunization records investigators had seized from Holmes' apartment when they searched it in July 2012, considering doctor-patient confidentiality laws. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep the items.<ref name="prescriptions">{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22323293/aurora-theater-shooting-cops-took-pill-bottles-from |title=Aurora theater shooting: Cops took pill bottles from Holmes' apartment |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]] |date=January 7, 2013 |first=John |last=Ingold}}</ref>


By July 10, the prosecution and the defense rested their cases. Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/defense-colorado-theater-shooting-rests-165125159.html|title=Defense in Colorado theater shooting trial rests its case|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2015|first=Dan|last=Elliott|archive-date=July 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711082710/http://news.yahoo.com/defense-colorado-theater-shooting-rests-165125159.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty.<ref name="plea">{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/28/aurora-cinema-massacre-plead-guilty |title=Aurora cinema massacre suspect James Holmes offers to plead guilty |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 28, 2013 |location=London}}</ref> On April 1, the prosecution announced it had declined the offer. Arapahoe County district attorney George Brauchler said "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death."<ref name="death_penalty">{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/01/james-holmes-prosecutors-death-penalty |title=James Holmes prosecutors seek death penalty against Aurora suspect |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=April 1, 2013|date=April 1, 2013 |location=London}}</ref>


===Verdict and sentencing===
On February 10, 2014, the presiding Arapahoe County District Court Judge, Carlos Samour, denied the last of the defense's motions to keep evidence from trial. Jurors may hear about evidence found in Holmes computers through disputed warrants and his illegally obtained credit union records. The trial, originally set for February 2014, is on hold while Judge Samour decides whether Holmes, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, should undergo a second [[psychiatric evaluation]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John |last=Ingold |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25105572/judge-allows-evidence-from-james-holmes-iphone-e |title=Judge allows evidence from James Holmes' iPhone, e-mails at trial |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=June 4, 2013 |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}</ref>
{{see also|James Holmes (mass murderer)#Verdict and sentencing}}
On July 16, after jury deliberations, Holmes was found guilty of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possessing illegal explosives, and a sentence enhancement of a crime of violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ktla.com/2015/07/16/james-holmes-jurys-choice-was-aurora-theater-massacre-murder-or-madness/|title=James Holmes Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Colorado Theater Mass Shooting, Shows No Reaction|publisher=KTLA-TV|date=July 16, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2015|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717130244/http://ktla.com/2015/07/16/james-holmes-jurys-choice-was-aurora-theater-massacre-murder-or-madness/|url-status=live}}</ref> The two murder convictions for each death were first-degree murder or attempted murder after deliberation, and first-degree murder or attempted murder with extreme indifference.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jordan|last=Steffen|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/07/16/james-holmes-guilty-of-murder-in-aurora-theater-shooting/|title=James Holmes guilty of murder in Aurora theater shooting|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=July 16, 2015|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174844/https://www.denverpost.com/2015/07/16/james-holmes-guilty-of-murder-in-aurora-theater-shooting/|url-status=live}}</ref>


The sentencing phase began on July 22.<ref>{{cite web|first=Raquel|last=Villanueva|url=http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/aurora-theater-trial/2015/07/16/what-happens-after-the-verdict/30256653/|title=Sentencing phase to start next week|work=[[KUSA (TV)|9News]]|date=July 17, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20150716231141/http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/aurora-theater-trial/2015/07/16/what-happens-after-the-verdict/30256653/|archive-date=July 16, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/colorado-death-penalty-focus-massacre-trial-enters-phase-100915257.html|title=Colorado death penalty in focus as massacre trial enters new phase|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=July 22, 2015|access-date=July 22, 2015|first1=Keith|last1=Coffman|first2=Daniel|last2=Wallis|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723044600/http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-death-penalty-focus-massacre-trial-enters-phase-100915257.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. However, the jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire.<ref>{{cite web|first=Maria L.|last=LaGanga|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-phase-one-deliberations-20150723-story.html|title=James Holmes jury find aggravating factors exist, moves on to second phase|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=July 23, 2015|archive-date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724050256/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-phase-one-deliberations-20150723-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Responses to the shooting==

On July 27, Holmes' sister stated in her testimony that her brother became withdrawn from the family after they moved from [[Salinas, California|Salinas]] to [[San Diego]] during his early teenage years. On July 28, Holmes' father pleaded for his son's life, stating that he is severely mentally ill. He displayed photos of camping trips and family vacations with Holmes to the jury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/father-colorado-movie-gunman-pleads-jury-life-222131517.html|title=Father of Colorado movie gunman pleads with jury for his life|publisher=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=July 28, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2015|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001021617/http://news.yahoo.com/father-colorado-movie-gunman-pleads-jury-life-222131517.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 30, Holmes' lawyers made a final appeal to the jurors, urging them to consider mental illness in his sentencing despite their rejection of the insanity defense used in the trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/james-holmes-defense-make-final-appeal-for-mercy_55bac08be4b0d4f33a023f8c?|title=James Holmes Defense Make Final Appeal For Mercy|work=The Huffington Post|date=July 30, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2015|first=Sadie|last=Gurman|archive-date=August 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801044222/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/james-holmes-defense-make-final-appeal-for-mercy_55bac08be4b0d4f33a023f8c|url-status=live}}</ref> The appeal for [[clemency]] was rejected on August 3 under the basis that mitigating factors such as mental illness did not outweigh aggravating factors such as the number of casualties in the massacre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33763506|work=BBC News|access-date=August 3, 2015|date=August 3, 2015|title=James Holmes moves closer to death penalty verdict|archive-date=August 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805003059/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33763506|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/08/aurora-theater-shooter-james-holmes-death-penalty/400367/|title=Why James Holmes Is a Step Closer to Facing the Death Penalty|work=The Atlantic|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2015|first=Krishnadev|last=Calamur|archive-date=August 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805204744/http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/08/aurora-theater-shooter-james-holmes-death-penalty/400367/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Holmes was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 7 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision over sentencing him to death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/theater-shooting-verdict-colorado-jurors-decide-james-holmes-punishment-211031263.html|title=Theater shooting verdict: James Holmes sentenced to life in prison|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=August 7, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2015|first=Jason|last=Sickles|archive-date=August 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810015404/http://news.yahoo.com/theater-shooting-verdict-colorado-jurors-decide-james-holmes-punishment-211031263.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/theater-shooting-trial/ci_28601756/aurora-theater-shooting-jurors-begin-watching-gory-video|title=James Holmes sentenced to life in prison in the Aurora theater shooting|work=The Denver Post|date=August 7, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2015|archive-date=August 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807193007/http://www.denverpost.com/theater-shooting-trial/ci_28601756/aurora-theater-shooting-jurors-begin-watching-gory-video|url-status=live}}</ref> Formal sentencing began on August 24 and was expected to last for three days.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fieldstadt|first1=Elisha|last2=Rascon|first2=Jason|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/aurora-movie-theater-shooter-james-holmes-be-sentenced-life-prison-n406276|title=Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes to be sentenced to life in prison|work=[[NBC News]]|date=August 7, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2015|archive-date=August 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808155518/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/aurora-movie-theater-shooter-james-holmes-be-sentenced-life-prison-n406276|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of the hearing on August 26, Samour formally sentenced Holmes to 12 life imprisonment sentences without parole and a maximum of 3,318 additional years on attempted murder and explosives possession convictions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gurman |first=Sadie |url=http://gazette.com/watch-live-day-2-in-the-sentencing-of-aurora-theater-shooting-gunman/article/1558038 |title=WATCH LIVE: Day 2 in the sentencing of Aurora theater shooting gunman |work=The Gazette |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 25, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910193703/http://gazette.com/watch-live-day-2-in-the-sentencing-of-aurora-theater-shooting-gunman/article/1558038 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reactions==


===Government===
===Government===
[[File:Barack Obama visiting victims of 2012 Aurora shooting.jpg|thumb|President [[Barack Obama]] visiting shooting victims at [[University of Colorado Hospital]] on July 22, 2012]]
[[File:Barack Obama visiting victims of 2012 Aurora shooting.jpg|thumb|President [[Barack Obama]] visiting shooting victims at [[University of Colorado Hospital]] on July 22, 2012]]
The evening after the shooting, a [[candlelight vigil]] was held at the site in Colorado.<ref name="chicagotribune Blond" /> President [[Barack Obama]] ordered flags at government buildings [[Flag of the United States#Display at half-staff|flown at half-staff]], in tribute to the victims, until July 25.<ref name="Huffington Post Wing 2012-07-20" /> Both Obama's and [[Mitt Romney]]'s campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the [[United States presidential election, 2012|2012 presidential election]].<ref name="Campaigns" /><ref name="wapo120720b" /> On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora.<ref name="BBC 2012-07-23 Obama" /><ref name="CNNFord20120723" /><ref name="NYTimes 2012-07-22 Eligon Kovaleski Santora" /><ref name="WP20120723" /><ref name="continentalnews Marschall 2012-07023" /> Many world leaders sent their condolences, including [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/MessageofCondolenceUSA.aspx|title=Message of condolence following recent tragic events in the USA, 20 July 2012|publisher=royal.gov.uk|accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref> French President [[François Hollande]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elysee.fr/president/les-actualites/communiques-de-presse/2012/communique-fusillade-dans-un-cinema-americain.13667.html|title=Communiqué – Fusillade dans un cinéma américain |publisher=elysee.fr|accessdate=July 26, 2012|language=French}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Spokesman/Pages/spokeauroraB210712.aspx|title=PM Netanyahu Sends Condolence Letter to US President Barack Obama Following the Massacre in Aurora, Colorado|publisher=pmo.gov.il|accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref> Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/4204|title=Condolences to US President Barack Obama|publisher=kremlin.ru|accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref> and [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zenit.org/article-35248?l=english|title=Pope Promises Prayers for Denver Victims|publisher=zenit.org|date=July 23, 2012|accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref>
The evening after the shooting, a [[candlelight vigil]] was held at the site in Aurora.<ref name="chicagotribune Blond"/> President [[Barack Obama]] ordered flags at government buildings [[Flag of the United States#Display at half-staff|flown at half-staff]], in tribute to the victims, until July 25.<ref name="Huffington Post Wing 2012-07-20"/> Both Obama's and [[Mitt Romney]]'s campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]].<ref name="Campaigns"/><ref name="wapo120720b"/> On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora.<ref name="BBC 2012-07-23 Obama"/><ref name="CNNFord20120723"/><ref name="NYTimes 2012-07-22 Eligon Kovaleski Santora"/><ref name="WP20120723"/><ref name="continentalnews Marschall 2012-07023"/> Many world leaders sent their condolences, including [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/MessageofCondolenceUSA.aspx |title=Message of condolence following recent tragic events in the USA, 20 July 2012 |publisher=royal.gov.uk |access-date=July 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722231545/http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/MessageofCondolenceUSA.aspx |archive-date=July 22, 2012 }}</ref> French President [[François Hollande]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elysee.fr/president/les-actualites/communiques-de-presse/2012/communique-fusillade-dans-un-cinema-americain.13667.html |title=Communiqué – Fusillade dans un cinéma américain |publisher=elysee.fr |access-date=July 26, 2012 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723073446/http://www.elysee.fr/president/les-actualites/communiques-de-presse/2012/communique-fusillade-dans-un-cinema-americain.13667.html |archive-date=July 23, 2012 }}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Spokesman/Pages/spokeauroraB210712.aspx|title=PM Netanyahu Sends Condolence Letter to US President Barack Obama Following the Massacre in Aurora, Colorado|publisher=pmo.gov.il|access-date=July 26, 2012|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143006/http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Spokesman/Pages/spokeauroraB210712.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/4204|title=Condolences to US President Barack Obama|date=July 21, 2012 |publisher=kremlin.ru|access-date=July 26, 2012|archive-date=August 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818150246/http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/4204|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zenit.org/article-35248?l=english |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416054141/http://www.zenit.org/article-35248?l=english |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 16, 2013 |title=Pope Promises Prayers for Denver Victims |publisher=zenit.org |date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=July 26, 2012 }}</ref>
[[File:Memorial outside Aurora Century movie theater where shooting occurred.jpg|thumb|Memorial across the street from the Aurora Century movie theater, in September 2012.]]
[[File:Memorial outside Aurora Century movie theater where shooting occurred.jpg|thumb|Memorial across the street from the Aurora Century movie theater, in September 2012]]


===Entertainment industry===
===Entertainment industry===
{{quote box|quote=I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.|source= —Director [[Christopher Nolan]]'s reaction to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado.<ref name="Nolan shooting reaction">{{cite web|title=Dark Knight Rises Director Christopher Nolan Breaks Silence on 'Unbearably Savage' Colorado Shooting|url=http://au.eonline.com/news/331987/dark-knight-rises-director-christopher-nolan-breaks-silence-on-unbearably-savage-colorado-shooting|first=Natalie|last=Finn|work=E! News|date=July 21, 2012|access-date=July 21, 2012|archive-date=December 9, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209091136/http://au.eonline.com/news/331987/dark-knight-rises-director-christopher-nolan-breaks-silence-on-unbearably-savage-colorado-shooting|url-status=live}}</ref>|width=35%|align=right}}
[[Warner Bros.]], the distributor of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'', stated that it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in [[Paris]], [[Mexico]], and [[Japan]],<ref name="msnbc120720c" /><ref name="ew 2012-07-21 Mexico and Japan" /> scaled down its marketing campaign in Finland,<ref name="yle.fi 2" /><ref name="yle.fi suspended in Finland" /> and decided not to report box office figures for the movie until July 23.<ref name="wsj 2012-07-21 no numbers" /> Some television advertisements for the film were also canceled.<ref name="businessweek White Palmeri Lee" /> Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21.<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 no numbers" /> It was reported that Warner Bros. would be making a "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to benefit victims of the shooting.<ref name="hollywoodreporter wb donation"/>

[[Warner Bros.]], the distributor of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'', said it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in [[France]], [[Mexico]], and [[Japan]],<ref name="msnbc120720c"/><ref name="ew 2012-07-21 Mexico and Japan"/> scaled down its marketing campaign in [[Finland]],<ref name="yle.fi 2"/><ref name="yle.fi suspended in Finland"/> and decided not to report box office figures for the movie until July 23.<ref name="wsj 2012-07-21 no numbers"/> Some television advertisements for the film were also canceled.<ref name="businessweek White Palmeri Lee"/> Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21.<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 no numbers"/> Warner Bros. reportedly made a "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to benefit victims.<ref name="hollywoodreporter wb donation"/>


[[Christopher Nolan]], the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating."<ref name="ew 2012-07-20 Nolan statement" /> [[Christian Bale]], who plays [[Batman]] in the film series, privately visited victims on July 24.<ref name="E! News Dark Knight Rises Shooting: Christian Bale Visits Victims in Hospital">{{cite web|last=Malkin|first=Marc|title=Dark Knight Rises Shooting: Christian Bale Visits Victims in Hospital|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/332776/dark-knight-rises-shooting-christian-bale-visits-victims-in-hospital|work=[[E! News]]|accessdate=July 24, 2012}}</ref> Members of the [[Colorado Rockies]] baseball team also visited victims.<ref name="Colorado Rockies pay visit to Aurora shooting survivors and hospital staff">{{cite web|last=Townsend|first=Mark|title=Colorado Rockies pay visit to Aurora shooting survivors and hospital staff|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/colorado-rockies-pay-visit-aurora-shooting-survivors-hospital-143514337--mlb.html|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|accessdate=July 27, 2012}}</ref> Members of the [[Denver Broncos]] also called and/or visited individuals at the hospitals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Broncos visit with shooting survivors|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8189598/|date=July 23, 2012|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=November 3, 2013}}</ref>
[[Christopher Nolan]], the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating".<ref name="ew 2012-07-20 Nolan statement"/> [[Christian Bale]], who plays [[Batman]] in the film series, privately visited victims on July 24.<ref name="E! News Dark Knight Rises Shooting: Christian Bale Visits Victims in Hospital">{{cite web|last=Malkin|first=Marc|title=Dark Knight Rises Shooting: Christian Bale Visits Victims in Hospital|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/332776/dark-knight-rises-shooting-christian-bale-visits-victims-in-hospital|work=[[E! News]]|access-date=July 24, 2012|date=July 24, 2012|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035737/http://www.eonline.com/news/332776/dark-knight-rises-shooting-christian-bale-visits-victims-in-hospital|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the [[Colorado Rockies]] baseball team also visited victims.<ref name="Colorado Rockies pay visit to Aurora shooting survivors and hospital staff">{{cite web|last=Townsend|first=Mark|title=Colorado Rockies pay visit to Aurora shooting survivors and hospital staff|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/colorado-rockies-pay-visit-aurora-shooting-survivors-hospital-143514337--mlb.html|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|access-date=July 27, 2012|archive-date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730140111/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/colorado-rockies-pay-visit-aurora-shooting-survivors-hospital-143514337--mlb.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the [[Denver Broncos]] also called or visited individuals at the hospitals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Broncos visit with shooting survivors|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8189598/|date=July 23, 2012|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|access-date=November 3, 2013|archive-date=November 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106022835/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8189598/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film ''[[Gangster Squad]]'', which preceded ''The Dark Knight Rises'' screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora),<ref name="eonline Macatee" /> because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns.<ref name="huffingtonpost Bindley" /><ref name="deadline Finke" /> The film's release date was rescheduled to January 2013, and the theater scene was replaced by a new sequence in a different setting.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Strauss |title=Out of respect for grieving families, "Gangster Squad" scene refilmed after Aurora theater shootings |url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_22397140/gangster-squad-redux-after-aurora-shootings |work=The Denver Post |date=January 20, 2013 |accessdate=January 29, 2013}}</ref>
Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film ''[[Gangster Squad (film)|Gangster Squad]]'', which preceded ''The Dark Knight Rises'' screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora),<ref name="eonline Macatee"/> because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns.<ref name="huffingtonpost Bindley"/><ref name="deadline Finke"/> The film's release date was rescheduled to January 2013, and the theater scene was replaced by a new sequence in a different setting.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Strauss |title=Out of respect for grieving families, "Gangster Squad" scene refilmed after Aurora theater shootings |url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_22397140/gangster-squad-redux-after-aurora-shootings |work=The Denver Post |date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329032400/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_22397140/gangster-squad-redux-after-aurora-shootings |url-status=live }}</ref>


In the wake of the shooting, [[DC Comics]] delayed the release of ''[[Batman Incorporated]]'' #3,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/07/24/batman-inc-3-delayed-by-dc-following-aurora-shooting/ |title=BATMAN INC No. 3 Delayed By DC Following Aurora Shooting |publisher=Blog.newsarama.com |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref> which includes a scene in which a female Leviathan agent brandishes a handgun in a classroom full of children while disguised as a schoolteacher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://perezhilton.com/2012-07-27-delayed-batman-comic-features-teacher-aiming-gun-at-students#.UBQd57Se4go |title=Batman Comic Postponed Because It Features A Teacher Pointing Gun at Students |publisher=PerezHilton.com |date=July 27, 2012 |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref> Additionally, it was reported that [[Warner Bros. Animation]] would edit the upcoming [[Cartoon Network]] series ''[[Beware the Batman]]'' to make the firearms look less realistic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallenstein |first=Andrew |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057164 |title=Warner Bros. tones down 'Batman' TV toon |work=Variety |date=July 27, 2012 |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref>
In the wake of the shooting, [[DC Comics]] delayed the release of ''[[Batman Incorporated]]'' #3,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/07/24/batman-inc-3-delayed-by-dc-following-aurora-shooting/ |title=BATMAN INC No. 3 Delayed By DC Following Aurora Shooting |publisher=Blog.newsarama.com |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806100824/http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/07/24/batman-inc-3-delayed-by-dc-following-aurora-shooting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which includes a scene in which a female Leviathan agent brandishes a handgun in a classroom full of children while disguised as a schoolteacher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://perezhilton.com/2012-07-27-delayed-batman-comic-features-teacher-aiming-gun-at-students |title=Batman Comic Postponed Because It Features A Teacher Pointing Gun at Students |publisher=PerezHilton.com |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001021009/http://perezhilton.com/2012-07-27-delayed-batman-comic-features-teacher-aiming-gun-at-students |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Warner Bros. Animation]] reportedly edited the [[Cartoon Network]] series ''[[Beware the Batman]]'' to make the firearms look less realistic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallenstein |first=Andrew |url=https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/warner-bros-tones-down-batman-tv-toon-1118057164/ |title=Warner Bros. tones down 'Batman' TV toon |work=Variety |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730075228/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057164 |url-status=live }}</ref>


[[Hans Zimmer]], who composed the [[The Dark Knight Rises (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for ''The Dark Knight Rises'', recorded a choral song entitled "Aurora" in honor of the victims.<ref name="aurora">{{cite web| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690681/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-composer-aurora-song.jhtml
[[Hans Zimmer]], who composed the [[The Dark Knight Rises (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for ''The Dark Knight Rises'', recorded a choral song entitled "Aurora" in honor of the victims.<ref name="aurora">{{cite web| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690681/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-composer-aurora-song.jhtml| title = 'Dark Knight Rises' Composer Dedicates New Song To Aurora Victims| publisher = MTV| date = July 27, 2012| access-date = July 27, 2012| archive-date = July 29, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120729221329/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690681/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-composer-aurora-song.jhtml| url-status = dead}}</ref> The song was sold for donations that went to a fund for the victims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/hans-zimmer-composes-song-aurora-victims-183914173.html?_esi=1 |title=Hans Zimmer composes song for Aurora victims |publisher=Yahoo! News |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305132545/http://news.yahoo.com/hans-zimmer-composes-song-aurora-victims-183914173.html?_esi=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| title = 'Dark Knight Rises' Composer Dedicates New Song To Aurora Victims
| publisher = MTV
| date = July 27, 2012
| accessdate =July 27, 2012}}</ref>


Cinemark agreed to pay any funeral expenses incurred by the deceased victims' families not covered by the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.<ref>{{cite web|title='Batman' Movie Massacre – Theater Steps Up for Victims’ Funeral Expenses|url=http://www.fmnewsweekly.com/batman-movie-massacre-theater-steps-up-for-victims-funeral-expenses/|publisher=FM News Weekly|accessdate=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Cinemark closed the entire Century Aurora 16 multiplex in the wake of the shooting but reopened January 17, 2013 with a 40-minute ceremony led by Aurora Mayor [[Steve Hogan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Century Aurora theater reopens with ceremony, showing of "The Hobbit"|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22396748/century-aurora-theater-reopening-night-rememberance|accessdate=January 22, 2013|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=January 17, 2013|first=Kurtis|last=Lee}}</ref>
Cinemark agreed to pay any funeral expenses incurred by the deceased victims' families not covered by the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.<ref>{{cite web|title='Batman' Movie Massacre – Theater Steps Up for Victims' Funeral Expenses|url=http://www.fmnewsweekly.com/batman-movie-massacre-theater-steps-up-for-victims-funeral-expenses/|publisher=FM News Weekly|access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Cinemark closed the entire Century Aurora 16 multiplex in the wake of the shooting but reopened January 17, 2013, with a 40-minute ceremony led by Aurora Mayor [[Steve Hogan]], followed by a showing of ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Century Aurora theater reopens with ceremony, showing of "The Hobbit"|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22396748/century-aurora-theater-reopening-night-rememberance|access-date=January 22, 2013|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=January 17, 2013|first=Kurtis|last=Lee|archive-date=January 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121084613/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22396748/century-aurora-theater-reopening-night-rememberance|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2020, [[Cinemark Theatres]] has not released any photographs or video evidence.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aurora theater shooting suits against Cinemark set for July 2016 trial|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27838559/aurora-theater-shooting-suits-against-cinemark-set-july|access-date=July 2, 2015|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=April 2, 2015|first=John|last=Ingold|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705002952/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27838559/aurora-theater-shooting-suits-against-cinemark-set-july|url-status=live}}</ref>


Soon after the shooting, police departments and cinemas across the United States and around the world increased security for fear of [[Copycat crime|copycat]] incidents.<ref name="cnn 2012-07-20 sec steps" /><ref name="beefup" /> In [[New York City]], police officers were deployed to theaters screening the new film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Edmund|title=Cinema Security Tightened After 'Dark Knight' Shootings|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-20/time-warner-cancels-batman-premiere-in-paris-after-deaths.html|accessdate=July 25, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref>
Soon after the shooting, police departments and cinemas across the United States and around the world increased security for fear of [[Copycat crime|copycat]] incidents.<ref name="cnn 2012-07-20 sec steps"/><ref name="beefup"/> In [[New York City]], police officers were deployed to theaters screening the new film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Edmund|title=Cinema Security Tightened After 'Dark Knight' Shootings|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-20/time-warner-cancels-batman-premiere-in-paris-after-deaths.html|access-date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=July 20, 2012|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722234445/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-20/time-warner-cancels-batman-premiere-in-paris-after-deaths.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


The [[National Association of Theatre Owners]] distributed checklists from the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures."<ref>{{cite news|last=McKay|first=Hollie|title=National theater association reviewing all security procedures in wake of Colorado midnight movie massacre|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/20/dark-knight-paris-premiere-canceled-nypd-officers-to-patrol-theaters/|accessdate=July 25, 2012|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Security Recommendations Sent To Theater Owners|url=http://articles.courant.com/2012-07-20/news/hc-dark-knight-nato-statement-0720-20120720_1_theatre-owners-security-systems-personnel|accessdate=July 25, 2012|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> [[AMC Theatres]] announced that it would "not allow any guests into our theatres in costumes that make other guests feel uncomfortable and we will not permit face-covering masks or fake weapons inside our buildings."<ref>{{cite news|last=West|first=Kelly|title=AMC Bans Masks And Fake Weapons at Their Theaters in the Wake of the Aurora Shooting|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/AMC-Bans-Masks-Fake-Weapons-Their-Theaters-Wake-Aurora-Shooting-32048.html|accessdate=July 25, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> ''Security Director News'' raised the possibility in a July 23 article that "the massacre could be a [[Virginia Tech massacre|Virginia Tech]] for movie theaters, causing security to become a bigger part of the conversation and more stringent security procedures to be adopted at theaters across the country."<ref>{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Whit|title=Reassessing cinema security in the wake of Colorado's movie theater massacre|url=http://www.securitydirectornews.com/retail-and-hospitality/reassessing-cinema-security-wake-colorados-movie-theater-massacre|accessdate=July 25, 2012|newspaper=Security Director News|date=July 23, 2012}}</ref>
The [[National Association of Theatre Owners]] distributed checklists from the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures".<ref>{{cite news|last=McKay|first=Hollie|title=National theater association reviewing all security procedures in wake of Colorado midnight movie massacre|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/national-theater-association-reviewing-all-security-procedures-in-wake-of-colorado-midnight-movie-massacre/|access-date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=July 20, 2012|archive-date=July 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725060841/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/20/dark-knight-paris-premiere-canceled-nypd-officers-to-patrol-theaters/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Security Recommendations Sent To Theater Owners|url=https://www.courant.com/2012/07/20/security-recommendations-sent-to-theater-owners-2/|access-date=July 25, 2012|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=July 20, 2012|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004419/http://articles.courant.com/2012-07-20/news/hc-dark-knight-nato-statement-0720-20120720_1_theatre-owners-security-systems-personnel|url-status=live}}</ref> [[AMC Theatres]] announced it would "not allow any guests into our theatres in costumes that make other guests feel uncomfortable and we will not permit face-covering masks or fake weapons inside our buildings".<ref>{{cite news|last=West|first=Kelly|title=AMC Bans Masks And Fake Weapons at Their Theaters in the Wake of the Aurora Shooting|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/AMC-Bans-Masks-Fake-Weapons-Their-Theaters-Wake-Aurora-Shooting-32048.html|access-date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=July 20, 2012|archive-date=July 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725151002/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/AMC-Bans-Masks-Fake-Weapons-Their-Theaters-Wake-Aurora-Shooting-32048.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Security Director News'' raised the possibility in a July 23 article that "the massacre could be a [[Virginia Tech shooting|Virginia Tech]] for movie theaters, causing security to become a bigger part of the conversation and more stringent security procedures to be adopted at theaters across the country."<ref>{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Whit|title=Reassessing cinema security in the wake of Colorado's movie theater massacre|url=http://www.securitydirectornews.com/retail-and-hospitality/reassessing-cinema-security-wake-colorados-movie-theater-massacre|access-date=July 25, 2012|newspaper=Security Director News|date=July 23, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729141209/http://www.securitydirectornews.com/retail-and-hospitality/reassessing-cinema-security-wake-colorados-movie-theater-massacre|archive-date=July 29, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


===Civil litigation===
===Civil litigation===
In the aftermath of the shooting, several legal experts said that it would be extremely difficult for victims and their families to pursue claims for civil liability against the theater or others.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoover|first=Tim|title=Aurora theater shooting liability lawsuits stand little chance, legal experts say|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21150830|accessdate=October 11, 2012|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado Attack Victims May Have Little Chance in Suits|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-24/colorado-shooting-victims-may-have-little-chance-in-suits.html|accessdate=October 11, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=July 24, 2012|last=Rosenblatt |first=Joel|last2=Pearson |first2=Sophia}}</ref>


====Cinemark Theaters====
Three victims sued Cinemark in the [[United States District Court for the District of Colorado|U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado]] on September 21, 2012 for the company's alleged negligence in failing to provide adequate safety and security measures.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingold|first=John|title=Aurora theater shooting victims file suits against Cinemark|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21602133/aurora-theater-shooting-victims-file-suits-against-cinemark|accessdate=October 11, 2012|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=September 21, 2012}}</ref> Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons."<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Walsh |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dark-knight-shooting-spree-victims-bring-civil-lawsuit-colorado-aurora-theater-lack-security-article-1.1165391#ixzz2HmWsJeg8 |title='Dark Knight' shooting spree victims bring civil lawsuit in Colorado against Aurora theater for lack of security |newspaper=Daily News|location=New York |date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> In response, Cinemark's representation filed a motion to dismiss on September 27, 2012 on the grounds that there was no liability under Colorado law for failure to prevent an unforeseeable criminal act.<ref>[http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CINEMARK_DARK_KNIGHT_RISES_SHOOTING_SUIT_RESPONSE__120928154133.pdf Motion to Dismiss, ''Nowlan v. Cinemark USA, Inc. et al.], Civil Action No. 1:12-cv-02517-RBJ-MEH, U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Colo., September 27, 2012, Deadline.com, last visited October 11, 2012.</ref> Cinemark's motion quoted extensively from the landmark California appellate opinion<ref>''Lopez v. McDonald's Corp.'', [http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/CA3/193CA3d495.htm 193 Cal. App. 3d 495] (1987).</ref> that held [[McDonald's]] had no [[duty of care]] to prevent the 1984 [[San Ysidro McDonald's massacre]]. On October 30, 2012, the court hearing the criminal case against Holmes denied a motion by some of the survivors that would have let them access sealed evidence for review in their civil action against the theater chain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado judge denies theater rampage victims access to criminal files|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/us-usa-shooting-denver-idUSBRE89U02420121031|agency=Reuters|accessdate=October 31, 2012|date=October 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John |last=Ingold |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21889742/aurora-theater-shooting-judge-denies-victims-bid-records |title=Aurora theater shooting judge denies victims' bid for records |work=The Denver Post |accessdate=December 15, 2012 |date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> On January 24, 2013, a federal magistrate judge issued a recommendation that most of the claims be thrown out, as they were not allowable under Colorado law, although he also said that claims alleging violations of the Colorado Premises Liability Act could proceed.<ref>John Ingold, [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22445279/judge-says-wrongful-death-claims-theater-shootings-should "Judge says wrongful death claims in theater shootings should be tossed,"] ''[[The Denver Post]]'', January 25, 2013.</ref>
Three victims sued [[Cinemark Theatres]] in the [[United States District Court for the District of Colorado|U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado]] on September 21, 2012, for the company's alleged negligence in failing to provide adequate safety and security measures.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingold|first=John|title=Aurora theater shooting victims file suits against Cinemark|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21602133/aurora-theater-shooting-victims-file-suits-against-cinemark|access-date=October 11, 2012|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=September 21, 2012|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011020123/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21602133/aurora-theater-shooting-victims-file-suits-against-cinemark|url-status=live}}</ref> Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons."<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Walsh |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dark-knight-shooting-spree-victims-bring-civil-lawsuit-colorado-aurora-theater-lack-security-article-1.1165391 |title='Dark Knight' shooting spree victims bring civil lawsuit in Colorado against Aurora theater for lack of security |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=September 22, 2012 |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029033808/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dark-knight-shooting-spree-victims-bring-civil-lawsuit-colorado-aurora-theater-lack-security-article-1.1165391 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In response, Cinemark's representation filed a motion to dismiss on September 27, 2012, on the grounds that there was no liability under Colorado law for failure to prevent an unforeseeable criminal act.<ref>[http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CINEMARK_DARK_KNIGHT_RISES_SHOOTING_SUIT_RESPONSE__120928154133.pdf Motion to Dismiss, ''Nowlan v. Cinemark USA, Inc. et al.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029114627/http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CINEMARK_DARK_KNIGHT_RISES_SHOOTING_SUIT_RESPONSE__120928154133.pdf |date=October 29, 2012 }}, Civil Action No. 1:12-cv-02517-RBJ-MEH, U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Colo., September 27, 2012, Deadline.com, last visited October 11, 2012.</ref> Cinemark's motion quoted extensively from the landmark California appellate opinion<ref>''Lopez v. McDonald's Corp.'', [http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/CA3/193CA3d495.htm 193 Cal. App. 3d 495] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403045204/http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/CA3/193CA3d495.htm |date=April 3, 2007 }} (1987).</ref> that held [[McDonald's]] had no [[duty of care]] to prevent the 1984 [[San Ysidro McDonald's massacre]]. On October 30, 2012, the court hearing the criminal case against Holmes denied a motion by some of the survivors that would have let them access sealed evidence for review in their civil action against the theater chain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado judge denies theater rampage victims access to criminal files|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shooting-denver-idUSBRE89U02420121031|work=Reuters|access-date=October 31, 2012|date=October 31, 2012|archive-date=October 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031063042/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/us-usa-shooting-denver-idUSBRE89U02420121031|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingold |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21889742/aurora-theater-shooting-judge-denies-victims-bid-records |title=Aurora theater shooting judge denies victims' bid for records |work=The Denver Post |access-date=December 15, 2012 |date=October 30, 2012 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103031727/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21889742/aurora-theater-shooting-judge-denies-victims-bid-records |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 24, 2013, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty issued a recommendation that most of the claims be dismissed, as they were not allowable under Colorado law. He also said claims alleging violations of the Colorado Premises Liability Act could proceed.<ref>John Ingold, [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22445279/judge-says-wrongful-death-claims-theater-shootings-should "Judge says wrongful death claims in theater shootings should be tossed,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128021126/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22445279/judge-says-wrongful-death-claims-theater-shootings-should |date=January 28, 2013 }} ''[[The Denver Post]]'', January 25, 2013.</ref>
On January 14, 2013, Chantel Blunk, widow of victim Jonathan Blunk, filed a lawsuit against the [[University of Colorado]] in federal court. She alleged that a school psychiatrist could have prevented the slaughter by having Holmes detained after he admitted he "fantasized about killing a lot of people."<ref>{{cite web|title=First suit filed against University of Colorado in Aurora shooting|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16545060-first-suit-filed-against-university-of-colorado-in-aurora-shooting?lite|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=January 16, 2013}}</ref> This type of lawsuit had been anticipated in an August 2012 article co-authored by bioethicist [[Arthur Caplan]] which discussed the applicability of the landmark California Supreme Court decision in ''[[Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California]]'' (1976) to the facts of the Aurora shooting.<ref>Arthur Caplan and Dominic Sisti, "What should a doctor do with a patient like James Holmes," ''Philadelphia Inquirer'', August 3, 2012.</ref>


Judge R. Brooke Jackson stated that for theaters today, "One might reasonably believe that a mass shooting incident in a theater was likely enough (that is, not just a possibility) to be a foreseeable next step in the history of such acts by deranged individuals".<ref>{{cite news|title=Cinemark Again Denied Attempt To Toss Colorado Theater Shooting Lawsuits|url=https://deadline.com/2014/08/cinemark-aurora-theater-shooting-lawsuit-jury-dark-knight-rises-820639/|access-date=July 3, 2015|newspaper=Deadline|date=August 17, 2014|first=Dominic|last=Patten|archive-date=July 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704122948/http://deadline.com/2014/08/cinemark-aurora-theater-shooting-lawsuit-jury-dark-knight-rises-820639/|url-status=live}}</ref> Attorney Christina Habas, who represents several theater victims, has said, "We essentially don't have a single photograph, a single piece of evidence that we can show to a jury". In June 2016, a federal judge dismissed the last claims in the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cinemark Beats Victims' Lawsuit Over Mass Shooting at Colorado Movie Theater|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/cinemark-beats-victims-lawsuit-mass-906537|access-date=6 September 2018|newspaper=Hollywood Reporter|date=27 June 2016|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032313/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/cinemark-beats-victims-lawsuit-mass-906537|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Related incidents==
In the days following the attack, several people around the U.S. were arrested for threats and suspicious activities at or near screenings of ''The Dark Knight Rises''.


In a separate lawsuit in state court, Cinemark was sued by families of the victims, who alleged the theater should have taken greater measures to prevent such a shooting. In May 2016, after years of legal debate, a jury took three hours to deliver a unanimous verdict that the theater chain was not liable to any degree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/colorado-theater-shooting-cinemark-not-liable-1201778884/ |title=Cinemark Not Liable in Colorado Theater Shooting, Jury Finds |work=Variety |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032244/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/colorado-theater-shooting-cinemark-not-liable-1201778884/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The judge allowed Cinemark Theatres to submit a bill of costs to the plaintiffs to recover expenses due to the litigation, as Colorado state law allows for prevailing parties. In September 2016, Cinemark dropped all claims for reimbursement of legal fees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/13/aurora-theater-shooting-victims-wont-pay-cinemark-legal-costs/ |title=Aurora theater shooting victims won't have to pay $700,000 in legal costs after Cinemark drops request |work=[[The Denver Post]] |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032426/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/13/aurora-theater-shooting-victims-wont-pay-cinemark-legal-costs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On July 22 in [[Norwalk, California]], a man at a ''The Dark Knight Rises'' screening who yelled, "Does anyone have a gun?" and "I should go off like in Colorado" was arrested for making criminal threats.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nancy|last=Dillon|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-07-24/news/32809951_1_movie-theater-law-enforcement-gun |title=Arrest at ‘Dark Knight Rising’ in California |work=Daily News|location=New York |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>


====University of Colorado====
* On July 22 in [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], a man faced criminal charges for being involved in a fight in a cinema restroom. During the fight, a moviegoer shouted "Gun!", causing panic inside the theater showing ''The Dark Knight Rises''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-james-holmes-353183 |title=Man Charged After Fight Forces Evacuation at 'Dark Knight Rises' Screening |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 23, 2012 |accessdate=August 20, 2012 |first=Kimberly |last=Nordyke}}</ref>
On January 14, 2013, Chantel Blunk, the estranged wife and widow of victim Jonathan Blunk, sued the [[University of Colorado]] in federal court. She alleged that a school psychiatrist could have prevented the slaughter by having Holmes detained after he admitted he "fantasized about killing a lot of people".<ref>{{cite web|title=First suit filed against University of Colorado in Aurora shooting|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16545060-first-suit-filed-against-university-of-colorado-in-aurora-shooting?lite|work=NBC News|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117230854/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16545060-first-suit-filed-against-university-of-colorado-in-aurora-shooting?lite|url-status=live}}</ref> This type of lawsuit had been anticipated in an August 2012 article co-authored by bioethicist [[Arthur Caplan]] which discussed the applicability of the landmark California Supreme Court decision in ''[[Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California]]'' (1976) to the facts of the Aurora shooting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-03/news/33020709_1_tatiana-tarasoff-mental-health-care-therapist|title=What should a doctor do with a patient like James Holmes|last1=Caplan|first1=Arthur|last2=Sisti|first2=Dominic|date=August 3, 2012|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214193217/http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-03/news/33020709_1_tatiana-tarasoff-mental-health-care-therapist|archive-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref>


===Community center===
* On July 23 in [[San Jose, California]], someone threw a package into a theater showing ''The Dark Knight Rises'' and reportedly yelled that it was a bomb, leading to an evacuation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_21147211/san-jose-package-thrown-into-dark-knight-showing |title=San Jose: Package thrown into 'Dark Knight' showing prompts Eastridge theaters evacuation |work=Oakland Tribune |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=September 22, 2012}}</ref>
A [[grassroots]] community center, Aurora Strong Resilience Center, was established by community leaders, elected officials, and mental health professionals, as a response to the shooting. The center offers therapy for people who experienced [[traumatic stress]] from the theater shooting, and also people who were victims of other crimes and refugees who experienced a traumatic event in their country of origin before coming to the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denverfoundation.org/grants/page/aurora-strong-resilience-center |title=Aurora Strong Resilience Center |publisher=[[Denver Foundation]] |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701123459/http://www.denverfoundation.org/grants/page/aurora-strong-resilience-center |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/colorado-theater-shooting-trial-tests-mental-health-network-215217166.html |title=Colorado Shooting-Mental Health Story |publisher=Yahoo! News |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144252/http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-theater-shooting-trial-tests-mental-health-network-215217166.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Aftermath==
* On July 23 in [[Sierra Vista, Arizona]], a moviegoer's confrontation with an intoxicated man with a backpack at a ''The Dark Knight Rises'' screening led to "mass hysteria" and 50 people evacuating the theater.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/michael-borboa-arrested-dark-knight-rises-arizona_n_1697689.html |title=Michael Borboa Arrested At 'The Dark Knight Rises' Screening in Arizona |work=Huffington Post |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
===Sale of guns and gun control debate===
Colorado gun sales spiked after the shooting, with the number of background checks for people seeking to purchase a firearm in the state increasing to 2,887, up 43% from the previous week.<ref>{{cite news | title = Aurora theater shooting: Gun sales up since tragedy | date = July 23, 2012 | access-date = July 24, 2012 | first = Sara | last = Burnett | work = The Denver Post | url = http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21142159/gun-sales-up-since-tragedy | archive-date = July 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120724094248/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21142159/gun-sales-up-since-tragedy | url-status = live }}</ref> Gun sales in [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Florida]], [[California]], and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] also increased.<ref name="NYP25JUL12">{{cite news |title=Gun sales surging in wake of 'Dark Knight Rises' shooting |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gun_sales_surging_in_wake_of_colorado_gjhcp5CQHeWrgGNdttdlQK |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-date=July 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727223556/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gun_sales_surging_in_wake_of_colorado_gjhcp5CQHeWrgGNdttdlQK |url-status=live }}</ref> The shooting reignited the [[Gun politics in the United States|political debate on gun control]], with one issue being the "easy access" Holmes had two [[semi-automatic rifle]]s and high-capacity magazines, which were [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|banned federally]] from 1994 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/54556710-68/gun-sales-colorado-friday.html.csp|title= Fear prompts gun sales after Colorado theater massacre|author1= Baker, Mike|author2= Wyatt, Kristen|date= July 25, 2012|work= Salt Lake City Tribune|access-date= July 30, 2012|archive-date= July 28, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120728004013/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/54556710-68/gun-sales-colorado-friday.html.csp|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-24/aurora-gun-control-debate/56465980/1|title= Colo. rampage adds fuel to gun-control debate|author1= Jervis, Rick|author2= McAuliff, John|date= July 24, 2012|work= USA Today|access-date= July 30, 2012|archive-date= July 29, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120729215348/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-24/aurora-gun-control-debate/56465980/1|url-status= live}}</ref> The results of a survey released on July 30, 2012, by the [[Pew Research Center]] suggested the incident did not change Americans' views on the issue.<ref>{{cite news | title = Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting | date = July 30, 2012 | access-date = August 1, 2012 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | url = http://www.people-press.org/2012/07/30/views-on-gun-laws-unchanged-after-aurora-shooting/ | archive-date = August 1, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120801024722/http://www.people-press.org/2012/07/30/views-on-gun-laws-unchanged-after-aurora-shooting/ | url-status = live }}</ref>


===Campaign against media coverage===
*On August 4 in [[Westlake, Ohio]], a man was arrested for carrying several weapons in a satchel into a screening of ''The Dark Knight Rises''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bierly |first=Mandi |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/08/07/man-arrested-dark-knight-rises-ohio/ |title=Heavily armed man arrested at 'Dark Knight Rises' screening in Ohio |work=Entertainment Weekly |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref> The suspect later received six months imprisonment over the incident.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Switaj |first1=Lori E. |last2=Lea |first2=Jason |url=http://westlake.patch.com/articles/dark-knight-suspect-gets-6-months |title='Dark Knight' Suspect Gets 6 Months |publisher=Westlake.patch.com |date=March 31, 2013 |accessdate=April 1, 2013}}</ref>
In 2015, a campaign titled "No Notoriety" was started by the parents of Alexander Teves, who died in the shooting. According to Teves' father, the campaign's incentive is to encourage media outlets to limit the usage of the suspect's name and photos when reporting about the Aurora shooting, as well as other mass shootings that receive national media coverage. In an interview on [[CNN]], Teves' parents said they and the relatives of other victims believe the mass media coverage of Holmes' name and photo may inspire others to commit mass shootings for notoriety.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Ingold|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27488346/trial-nears-debate-grows-over-naming-aurora-theater|title=As trial nears, debate grows over naming the Aurora theater shooting|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=February 8, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2015|archive-date=June 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601054959/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27488346/trial-nears-debate-grows-over-naming-aurora-theater|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/25/victims-parents-want-no-notoriety-for-mass-shooters.cnn|title=Victims' parents want "no notoriety" for mass shooters|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=January 25, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2015|archive-date=May 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523170444/http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/25/victims-parents-want-no-notoriety-for-mass-shooters.cnn|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== Theater ===
==Sale of guns and gun control debate==
The Century 16 theater where the shooting occurred was rebranded as the Century Aurora theater by its parent company [[Cinemark Theatres]]. Despite heavy criticism from families and loved ones of victims,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=TODAY |first=Gary Strauss and Alia E. Dastagir, USA |title=Aurora movie theater reopens 6 months after mass shooting |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/16/aurora-theater-mass-shooting-reopens/1839313/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hassan |first=Carma |date=2013-01-18 |title=Colorado movie theater, scene of mass shooting, reopens despite discontent |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/18/us/colorado-aurora-theater-reopens/index.html |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> the theater was not demolished and reopened to the public after cleaning and renovation on January 25, 2013, nearly 6 months after the shooting.<ref name=":0" /> The reopening ceremony, which was boycotted by opponents of the theater's reopening, included a [[memorial service]] and a screening of ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Theater room nine, where the actual shooting occurred, was combined with an adjoining room into a new [[XD Theater|XD theater]] room.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Aurora Theater Reopens, Angering Some Family Members Of Victims |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/01/03/168564155/aurora-theater-reopens-angering-some-family-members-of-victims |access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref>
Colorado gun sales spiked after the shooting, with the number of background checks for people seeking to purchase a firearm in the state increasing to 2,887, up 43% from the previous week.<ref>{{cite news | title = Aurora theater shooting: Gun sales up since tragedy | date = July 23, 2012 | accessdate =July 24, 2012 | first = Sara | last = Burnett |work=The Denver Post | url = http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21142159/gun-sales-up-since-tragedy }}</ref> Gun sales in [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Florida]], [[California]], and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] also increased.<ref name="NYP25JUL12">{{cite news |title=Gun sales surging in wake of 'Dark Knight Rises' shooting |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gun_sales_surging_in_wake_of_colorado_gjhcp5CQHeWrgGNdttdlQK |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |date=July 25, 2012 |accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The shooting reignited the [[Gun politics in the United States|political debate on gun control]], with one issue being the "easy access" Holmes had to [[semi-automatic rifle]]s and high-capacity magazines, which were [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|banned federally]] from 1994 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/54556710-68/gun-sales-colorado-friday.html.csp|title= Fear prompts gun sales after Colorado theater massacre |author= Baker, Mike and Wyatt, Kristen|date= July 25, 2012|work= Salt Lake City Tribune|accessdate=July 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-24/aurora-gun-control-debate/56465980/1|title= Colo. rampage adds fuel to gun-control debate|author= Jervis, Rick and McAuliff, John|date= July 24, 2012 |work= USA Today|accessdate=July 30, 2012}}</ref> The results of a survey released on July 30, 2012 by the [[Pew Research Center]] suggested that the incident did not change Americans' views on the issue.<ref>{{cite news | title = Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting | date = July 30, 2012 | accessdate =August 1, 2012 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | url = http://www.people-press.org/2012/07/30/views-on-gun-laws-unchanged-after-aurora-shooting/}}</ref>

===Memorial===
A memorial to the victims of the attack was installed near Aurora Municipal Center, some {{convert|850|m|yd|2|abbr=on}} from the theater, and dedicated on July 19, 2018, one day before the sixth anniversary of the attack. It consists of a park-like dell with 83 abstract birds, one for each victim. Thirteen of the birds, with translucent wings, are on a center column and represent the twelve dead and the unborn child. The memorial, titled "Ascentiate", was designed by artist Douwe Blumberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2018/07/20/aurora-theater-shooting-memorial-unveiled/|title=Memorial to victims of Aurora theater shooting unveiled six years later|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=July 19, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2018|archive-date=July 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729111725/https://www.denverpost.com/2018/07/20/aurora-theater-shooting-memorial-unveiled/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Copycats===
{{Main|Broken Arrow killings}}
On July 22, 2015, in [[Broken Arrow, Oklahoma|Broken Arrow]], Oklahoma, [[Broken Arrow killings|two brothers murdered five of their family members]]; one of the perpetrators claimed that he and his brother planned the act for some time and intended to commit a shooting spree outside the family, hoping it would rival and even outdo both the 1999 [[Columbine High School massacre]] and the Aurora theater shooting.<ref name=WGN.Saved>{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/2015/07/25/young-boy-victim-to-brutal-family-murder-may-have-saved-lives-with-911-call/|title=Young boy victim to brutal family murder may have saved lives with 911 call|publisher=WGN-TV|date=July 25, 2015|access-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktul.com/story/29622206/who-is-robert-bever|title=Who is Robert Bever?|publisher=KTUL|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYDailyNews.Columbine>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/okla-stabbing-suspects-wanted-kill-columbine-article-1.2307634|title=Oklahoma teens accused of killing parents, siblings wanted to be more famous than Columbine shooters: report|work=The New York Daily News|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2015|first=Meg|last=Wagner}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/oklahoma-brothers-accused-in-family-murder-reportedly-planned-more-attacks/|title=Oklahoma brothers accused in family murder reportedly planned more attacks|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=July 30, 2015|access-date=July 30, 2015}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portalbar|Colorado|Death|2010s}}
{{Portal bar|Colorado}}
* [[Harlem Nights#Movie theater shooting controversy|1989 ''Harlem Nights'' movie theater shooting]] – Detroit suburban theater shooting that occurred simultaneous to a shooting scene in the film
* [[1993 Aurora, Colorado shooting]] – shooting at a [[Chuck E. Cheese]] that also occurred in Aurora 19 years prior
* [[2015 Lafayette shooting]] – theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, that occurred during the screening of the film ''[[Trainwreck (film)|Trainwreck]]''
* ''[[Dark Night (2016 film)|Dark Night]]'', a 2016 film about the shooting
* [[Gun laws in Colorado]]
* [[Gun laws in Colorado]]
* [[Gun law in the United States]]
* [[Gun law in the United States]]
* [[Death of Chad Oulson]]
* [[Gun violence in the United States]]
* [[Mass shootings in the United States]]
* [[List of rampage killers in the United States]]


==References==
==References==
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<ref name="Oates">
<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15">{{cite news | title = Rifle failure that stopped yet more batman carnage | url = http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/334642/Rifle-failure-that-stopped-yet-more-Batman-carnage | access-date = July 23, 2012 | newspaper = [[Daily Express]] | date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = February 9, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140209103641/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/334642/Rifle-failure-that-stopped-yet-more-Batman-carnage | url-status = live }}</ref>


<ref name="washpost-jam">{{cite news | last = Fahrenthold | first = David A. | title = Colorado shooting spree could have been worse; shooter's gun jammed, official says | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/explosives-removed-from-james-holmess-apartment-and-destroyed-officials-say/2012/07/22/gJQAL9XN2W_story.html | access-date = July 22, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = July 22, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723015934/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/explosives-removed-from-james-holmess-apartment-and-destroyed-officials-say/2012/07/22/gJQAL9XN2W_story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
{{cite news | title = Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates on Movie Shooting | date = July 20, 2012 |
work = Channel 7 – Denver | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF7Fs9TLJog | accessdate =July 25, 2012
}}
</ref>
<ref name="DailyExpress-M&P15">
{{cite news | title = Rifle failure that stopped yet more batman carnage | url = http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/334642/Rifle-failure-that-stopped-yet-more-Batman-carnage | accessdate =July 23, 2012 | newspaper = [[Daily Express]] | date = July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="washpost-jam">
<ref name="cbsnews body armor">
{{cite news | title = Police: Suspect wore body armor, used assault rifle, shotgun, Glock handgun in theater attack | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501368_162-57476870/police-suspect-wore-body-armor-used-assault-rifle-shotgun-glock-handgun-in-theater-attack/ | access-date =July 20, 2012 | work = CBS News | date = July 20, 2012 | agency=Associated Press | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722233312/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501368_162-57476870/police-suspect-wore-body-armor-used-assault-rifle-shotgun-glock-handgun-in-theater-attack |archive-date=July 22, 2012
{{cite news | last = Fahrenthold | first = David A. | title = Colorado shooting spree could have been worse; shooter's gun jammed, official says | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/explosives-removed-from-james-holmess-apartment-and-destroyed-officials-say/2012/07/22/gJQAL9XN2W_story.html | accessdate =July 22, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = July 22, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="cbcjuly20">{{cite news | title = Batman premiere gunman looked like 'assassin ready for war' | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/batman-premiere-gunman-looked-like-assassin-ready-for-war-1.1161429 | access-date = July 20, 2012 | publisher = CBC News | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 31, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130731154015/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/20/denver-shooting-movie-premiere.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="cbsnews body armor">
{{cite news | title = Police: Suspect wore body armor, used assault rifle, shotgun, Glock handgun in theater attack | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501368_162-57476870/police-suspect-wore-body-armor-used-assault-rifle-shotgun-glock-handgun-in-theater-attack/ | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | publisher = CBS News | date = July 20, 2012 | agency=Associated Press | deadurl=yes
}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}
</ref>


<ref name="alone1">{{cite news | last = Horwitz | first = Sari | title = Police say Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes had 2 pistols, assault rifle, shotgun | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/colorado-shooter-identified-as-james-holmes-24/2012/07/20/gJQAWkdrxW_story.html | access-date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723052359/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/colorado-shooter-identified-as-james-holmes-24/2012/07/20/gJQAWkdrxW_story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="cbcjuly20">
{{cite news | title = Batman premiere gunman looked like 'assassin ready for war' | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/20/denver-shooting-movie-premiere.html | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | publisher = CBC News | date = July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="thedenverchannel">{{cite news | last1 = Kane | first1 = Arthur | last2 = Ferrugia | first2 = John | date = July 21, 2012 | title = Sources: Shooter Took Prescription Drug Before Attack | publisher = ABC News 7 Denver | url = http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290793/detail.html | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722224657/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290793/detail.html | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="alone1">
{{cite news | last = Horwitz | first = Sari | title = Police say Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes had 2 pistols, assault rifle, shotgun | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/colorado-shooter-identified-as-james-holmes-24/2012/07/20/gJQAWkdrxW_story.html | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi">{{cite news | url = https://news.yahoo.com/shooting-suspect-court-orange-red-hair-155504660.html | title = Shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair | last1 = Banda | first1 = P. Solomon | last2 = Riccardi | first2 = Nicholas | date = July 23, 2012 | access-date = July 23, 2012 | agency = Associated Press | archive-date = July 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120726021622/http://news.yahoo.com/shooting-suspect-court-orange-red-hair-155504660.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="thedenverchannel">
{{cite news | last1 = Kane | first1 = Arthur | last2 = Ferrugia | first2 = John | date = July 21, 2012 | title = Sources: Shooter Took Prescription Drug Before Attack | publisher = ABC News 7 Denver | url = http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31290793/detail.html | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="ABC 2012-07-21 Joker">{{cite news | url = https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/aurora-dark-knight-suspect-joker-cops/story?id=16822251&singlePage=true | title = Aurora 'Dark Knight' Suspect James Holmes Says He 'Was the Joker': Cops | work = ABC News | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721103014/http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/aurora-dark-knight-suspect-joker-cops/story?id=16822251&singlePage=true | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="AP 2012-07-23 Banda Riccardi">
{{cite news | url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGGWagvgmVkcLvGqI1I6fyh63O5w?docId=eb5149da52b04b7a9b249fd9b567b56d | title = Shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair | last1 = Banda | first1 = P. Solomon | last2 = Riccardi | first2 = Nicholas | date = July 23, 2012 | accessdate =July 23, 2012 | agency = Associated Press
}} {{verify source|Google AP links expire and should not be used in Wikipedia|date=July 2012}}
</ref>


<ref name="latimes Pearce 2012-07-22">{{cite news | last = Pearce | first = Matt | date = July 22, 2012 | title = Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] | url = https://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-theater-shooting-magazine-20120722,0,4212661.story | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723165456/http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-theater-shooting-magazine-20120722,0,4212661.story | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="ABC 2012-07-21 Joker">
{{cite news | url = http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/aurora-dark-knight-suspect-joker-cops/story?id=16822251&singlePage=true | title = Aurora 'Dark Knight' Suspect James Holmes Says He 'Was the Joker': Cops |publisher=ABC News | accessdate =July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="Guardian 12 dead">{{cite news | title = Aurora shooting: 12 dead as gunman opens fire at movie theater: as it happened | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2012/jul/20/denver-batman-premiere-shooting-live | access-date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | date = July 20, 2012 | location = London | first = Adam | last = Gabbatt | archive-date = September 4, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130904102202/http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2012/jul/20/denver-batman-premiere-shooting-live | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="latimes Pearce 2012-07-22">
{{cite news | last = Pearce | first = Matt|date=July 22, 2012|title=Gun's magazine shaped the pace of Colorado theater massacre| newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-theater-shooting-magazine-20120722,0,4212661.story | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Guardian 12 dead">
{{cite news | title = Aurora shooting: 12 dead as gunman opens fire at movie theater: as it happened | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/jul/20/denver-batman-premiere-shooting-live | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | date = July 20, 2012 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Gabbatt
}}
</ref>


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<ref name="70 victims in mass shooting">
<ref name="70 victims in mass shooting">
{{cite news | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims the Largest Mass Shooting | url = http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | accessdate =July 21, 2012 | work = Good Morning America | date = July 20, 2012 | first1 = Clayton |last1=Sandell | first2 = Kevin |last2=Dolak |first3=Colleen |last3=Curry
{{cite news | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims the Largest Mass Shooting | url = http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | access-date =July 21, 2012 | work = Good Morning America | date = July 20, 2012 | first1 = Clayton |last1=Sandell | first2 = Kevin |last2=Dolak |first3=Colleen |last3=Curry
}}
}}
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<ref name="bradenton. 2012-07-23 Peipert">{{cite news|last=Peipert |first=Thomas |title=A look at the Lives of Colorado shooting victims |url=http://www.bradenton.com/2012/07/23/4125080/a-look-at-the-lives-of-colorado.html |access-date=July 23, 2012 |newspaper=Brandenton Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726051816/http://www.bradenton.com/2012/07/23/4125080/a-look-at-the-lives-of-colorado.html |archive-date=July 26, 2012 }}
<ref name="bradenton. 2012-07-23 Peipert">
{{cite news | last = Peipert | first = Thomas|title=A look at the Lives of Colorado shooting victims|url=http://www.bradenton.com/2012/07/23/4125080/a-look-at-the-lives-of-colorado.html |accessdate=July 23, 2012| newspaper = Brandenton Herald}}
{{dead link|date=March 2014}}
</ref>
</ref>


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<ref name="bbc0721">
<ref name="bbc0721">
{{cite news | title = Profile: Aurora cinema shooting suspect James Holmes | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18937513 | accessdate =July 21, 2012 |publisher=BBC News | date = July 21, 2012
{{cite news | title = Profile: Aurora cinema shooting suspect James Holmes | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18937513 | access-date =July 21, 2012 |publisher=BBC News | date = July 21, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
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<ref name="AP whois Holmes">
<ref name="AP whois Holmes">
{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Nation/2012/07/20/Suspect-described-2.html | title = Who is James Egan Holmes? | newspaper = [[Toledo Blade|The Blade]] | location = Toledo, OH | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 21, 2012
{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Nation/2012/07/20/Suspect-described-2.html | title = Who is James Egan Holmes? | newspaper = [[Toledo Blade|The Blade]] | location = Toledo, OH | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date =July 21, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
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<ref name="ucdenver Statement">
<ref name="ucdenver Statement">
{{cite web | url = http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/Statement-from-the-university-on-James-Holmes.aspx | title = Statement from the university on James Holmes | publisher = University of Colorado Denver | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 21, 2012
{{cite web | url = http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/Statement-from-the-university-on-James-Holmes.aspx | title = Statement from the university on James Holmes | publisher = University of Colorado Denver | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723195930/http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/Statement-from-the-university-on-James-Holmes.aspx | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}
}}
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<ref name="Daily News Lysiak Arkin Mcshane 2012-07-21">{{cite news | first1 = Matthew | last1 = Lysiak | first2 = James | last2 = Arkin | first3 = Larry | last3 = Mcshane | title = Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes jailed in solitary: 'All the inmates were talking about killing him' | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/aurora-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-jailed-solitary-inmates-talking-killing-article-1.1119173 | access-date = July 22, 2012 | newspaper = Daily News | location = New York | date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721211453/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/aurora-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-jailed-solitary-inmates-talking-killing-article-1.1119173 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Daily News Lysiak Arkin Mcshane 2012-07-21">
{{cite news | first1 = Matthew | last1 = Lysiak | first2 = James | last2 = Arkin | first3 = Larry | last3 = Mcshane | title = Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes jailed in solitary: 'All the inmates were talking about killing him' | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/aurora-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-jailed-solitary-inmates-talking-killing-article-1.1119173 | accessdate =July 22, 2012| newspaper = Daily News | location = New York | date = July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="cbsnews 2">{{cite news | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colo-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-apartment-booby-trapped-police-say/ | title = Colo. shooting suspect James Holmes' apartment booby trapped, police say | work = CBS News | agency = Associated Press | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721102834/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57476636/colo-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-apartment-booby-trapped-police-say/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="cbsnews 2">
{{cite news | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57476636/colo-shooting-suspect-james-holmes-apartment-booby-trapped-police-say/ | title = Colo. shooting suspect James Holmes' apartment booby trapped, police say | publisher = CBS News | agency = Associated Press | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="KDVR slideshow">{{cite news | url = http://kdvr.com/2012/07/20/slideshow-aurora-theater-shooting-scene-suspects-booby-trapped-apartment | title = Slideshow: Aurora theater shooting scene, suspect's booby-trapped apartment | publisher = KDVR (Fox 31 Denver) | last = Holden | first = Will C. | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = August 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120821065258/http://kdvr.com/2012/07/20/slideshow-aurora-theater-shooting-scene-suspects-booby-trapped-apartment/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="KDVR slideshow">
{{cite news |url= http://kdvr.com/2012/07/20/slideshow-aurora-theater-shooting-scene-suspects-booby-trapped-apartment | title = Slideshow: Aurora theater shooting scene, suspect's booby-trapped apartment | publisher = KDVR (Fox 31 Denver) | last = Holden | first = Will C. | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="abc120720e">{{cite news | first1=Clayton | last1=Sandell | first2=Kevin | last2=Dolak | first3=Colleen | last3=Curry | work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | title=Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: Suspect Bought 4 Guns, 6,000 Rounds of Ammunition in Past 60 Days | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-suspect-bought-guns-6000/story?id=16817842 | date=July 20, 2012 | access-date=July 20, 2012 | archive-date=July 21, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721103244/http://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-suspect-bought-guns-6000/story?id=16817842 | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="abc120720e">
{{cite news | first1=Clayton | last1=Sandell | first2=Kevin | last2=Dolak | first3=Colleen | last3=Curry | publisher=[[ABC News]] | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: Suspect Bought 4 Guns, 6,000 Rounds of Ammunition in Past 60 Days | url = http://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-suspect-bought-guns-6000/story?id=16817842 | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="NBC News 2012-07-23 Johnson">
<ref name="NBC News 2012-07-23 Johnson">
{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = M. Alex | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Theater massacre suspect appears in Colorado courtroom | url = http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/23/12900488-theater-massacre-suspect-appears-in-colorado-courtroom | publisher = NBC News | accessdate =July 23, 2012
{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = M. Alex | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Theater massacre suspect appears in Colorado courtroom | url = http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/23/12900488-theater-massacre-suspect-appears-in-colorado-courtroom | work = NBC News | access-date = July 23, 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170706184321/http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/23/12900488-theater-massacre-suspect-appears-in-colorado-courtroom | archive-date = July 6, 2017 | df = mdy-all }}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="yahoo Flaccus Riccardi">{{cite news | last1 = Flaccus | first1 = Gillian | last2 = Riccardi | first2 = Nicholas | title = Movie massacre suspect mum; Batman mask found | publisher = Yahoo News | url = https://news.yahoo.com/movie-massacre-suspect-mum-batman-mask-found-024202998.html | date = July 23, 2012 | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120726005214/http://news.yahoo.com/movie-massacre-suspect-mum-batman-mask-found-024202998.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="yahoo Flaccus Riccardi">
{{cite news | last1 = Flaccus | first1 = Gillian | last2 = Riccardi | first2 = Nicholas | title = Movie massacre suspect mum; Batman mask found | publisher = Yahoo News | url = http://news.yahoo.com/movie-massacre-suspect-mum-batman-mask-found-024202998.html | date=July 23, 2012| accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="Huffington Post Wing 2012-07-20">{{cite news | last = Wing | first = Nick | title = Obama Colorado Shooting Proclamation: Flags To Be Flown at Half Staff for Victims | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/obama-colorado-shooting-flags-half-staff_n_1690405.html | access-date = July 20, 2012 | work = [[The Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721041500/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/obama-colorado-shooting-flags-half-staff_n_1690405.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Huffington Post Wing 2012-07-20">
{{cite news | last = Wing | first = Nick | title = Obama Colorado Shooting Proclamation: Flags To Be Flown at Half Staff for Victims | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/obama-colorado-shooting-flags-half-staff_n_1690405.html | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | work = [[Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="Campaigns">{{cite news | last = Weiner | first = Rachel | title = Obama, Romney pull Colorado ads off air in wake of Aurora shooting | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-romney-pulling-colorado-ads-off-air-in-wake-of-aurora-shooting/2012/07/20/gJQA2pu2xW_blog.html | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = July 20, 2012 | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722234747/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-romney-pulling-colorado-ads-off-air-in-wake-of-aurora-shooting/2012/07/20/gJQA2pu2xW_blog.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Campaigns">
{{cite news | last = Weiner | first = Rachel | title = Obama, Romney pull Colorado ads off air in wake of Aurora shooting | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-romney-pulling-colorado-ads-off-air-in-wake-of-aurora-shooting/2012/07/20/gJQA2pu2xW_blog.html | work = The Washington Post | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | date = July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="wapo120720b">{{cite news | first = David | last = Nakamura | newspaper = The Washington Post | title = Obama, Romney express condolences for Colorado shooting victims | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-romney-express-condolences-for-colorado-shooting-victims/2012/07/20/gJQA2IojxW_story.html | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721025737/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-romney-express-condolences-for-colorado-shooting-victims/2012/07/20/gJQA2IojxW_story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="wapo120720b">
{{cite news | first = David | last = Nakamura | work = The Washington Post | title = Obama, Romney express condolences for Colorado shooting victims | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-romney-express-condolences-for-colorado-shooting-victims/2012/07/20/gJQA2IojxW_story.html | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="BBC 2012-07-23 Obama">{{cite news | work = BBC News | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Aurora shooting: Obama says all US stands with victim | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18944913 | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723005135/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18944913 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="BBC 2012-07-23 Obama">
{{cite news |publisher=BBC News | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Aurora shooting: Obama says all US stands with victim | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18944913 | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="CNNFord20120723">{{cite news | last = Fords | first = Dana | date = July 23, 2012 | title = 'Words Are ... Inadequate,' Obama Tells Families of Colorado Shooting Victims | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/22/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/ | publisher = CNN | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 25, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120725005945/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/22/justice/colorado-theater-shooting | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="CNNFord20120723">
{{cite news | last = Fords | first = Dana | date = July 23, 2012 | title = 'Words Are ... Inadequate,' Obama Tells Families of Colorado Shooting Victims | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/22/justice/colorado-theater-shooting/ | publisher = CNN | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="NYTimes 2012-07-22 Eligon Kovaleski Santora">{{cite news | last1 = Eligon | first1 = John | last2 = Kovaleski | first2 = Serge F. | last3 = Santora | first3 = Marc | date = July 22, 2012 | title = Obama Consoles Aurora as City Begins Healing | newspaper = The New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723140251/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYTimes 2012-07-22 Eligon Kovaleski Santora">
{{cite news | last1 = Eligon | first1 = John | last2 = Kovaleski | first2 = Serge F. | last3 = Santora | first3 = Marc | date = July 22, 2012 | title = Obama Consoles Aurora as City Begins Healing | newspaper = The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/us/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-james-holmes.html | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="WP20120723">{{cite news | last = McNakamura | first = David | date = July 23, 2012 | title = After Aurora shootings, Obama Again Takes on Role as Healer in Chief in Colorado | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-aurora-shootings-obama-again-takes-on-role-as-healer-in-chief-in-colorado/2012/07/22/gJQAdEO92W_story.html | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120724200834/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-aurora-shootings-obama-again-takes-on-role-as-healer-in-chief-in-colorado/2012/07/22/gJQAdEO92W_story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="WP20120723">
{{cite news | last = McNakamura | first = David | date = July 23, 2012 | title = After Aurora shootings, Obama Again Takes on Role as Healer in Chief in Colorado | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-aurora-shootings-obama-again-takes-on-role-as-healer-in-chief-in-colorado/2012/07/22/gJQAdEO92W_story.html | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="continentalnews Marschall 2012-07023">
<ref name="continentalnews Marschall 2012-07023">
{{cite web | last = Marschall | first = Rick|title=President Barack Obama Visits Aurora Victims' Families and Survivors|url=http://continentalnews.net/2012/07/23/president-barack-obama-visits-aurora-victims-families-and-survivors-10183.html|publisher=continentalnews.net | date = July 23, 2012 | accessdate =July 23, 2012
{{cite web | last = Marschall | first = Rick | title = President Barack Obama Visits Aurora Victims' Families and Survivors | url = http://continentalnews.net/2012/07/23/president-barack-obama-visits-aurora-victims-families-and-survivors-10183.html | publisher = continentalnews.net | date = July 23, 2012 | access-date = July 23, 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120801052059/http://continentalnews.net/2012/07/23/president-barack-obama-visits-aurora-victims-families-and-survivors-10183.html | archive-date = August 1, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="msnbc120720c">{{cite news | last = Leffler | first = Rebecca | date = July 20, 2012 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | publisher = NBC News | title = 'Dark Knight Rises' Paris Premiere Scrapped Following U.S. Shootings | url = http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/20/12855087-dark-knight-rises-paris-premiere-scrapped-following-us-shootings | access-date = July 20, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723063807/http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/20/12855087-dark-knight-rises-paris-premiere-scrapped-following-us-shootings | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="msnbc120720c">
{{cite news | last = Leffler | first = Rebecca | date = July 20, 2012 | publisher=NBC News | work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | title = 'Dark Knight Rises' Paris Premiere Scrapped Following U.S. Shootings | url = http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/20/12855087-dark-knight-rises-paris-premiere-scrapped-following-us-shootings | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 Mexico and Japan">{{cite news | url = http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/07/21/warner-bros-cancels-dark-knight-rises-premieres-mexico-and-japan/ | title = Warner Bros. Cancels 'Dark Knight Rises' Premieres in Mexico and Japan | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = July 21, 2012 | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202219/http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/07/21/warner-bros-cancels-dark-knight-rises-premieres-mexico-and-japan/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 Mexico and Japan">
{{cite news | url = http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/07/21/warner-bros-cancels-dark-knight-rises-premieres-mexico-and-japan/ | title = Warner Bros. Cancels 'Dark Knight Rises' Premieres in Mexico and Japan | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = July 21, 2012 | accessdate =July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="yle.fi 2">{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman_film_marketing_campaign_scaled_down_in_finland/6225195 | title = Batman film Marketing Campaign Scaled Down in Finland | publisher = Yle Uutiset | date = July 20, 2012 | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723014418/http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman_film_marketing_campaign_scaled_down_in_finland/6225195 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="yle.fi 2">
{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman_film_marketing_campaign_scaled_down_in_finland/6225195 | title = Batman film Marketing Campaign Scaled Down in Finland | publisher = Yle Uutiset | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="yle.fi suspended in Finland">{{cite news | last = Blencowe | first = Annette | date = July 20, 2012 | language = fi | title = Batman-elokuvan nettikampanja keskeytettiin Suomessa | trans-title = Batman movie online campaign was suspended in Finland | publisher = yle.fi | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman-elokuvan_markkinointikampanja_hyllytettiin_suomessa/6225061 | access-date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040613/http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman-elokuvan_markkinointikampanja_hyllytettiin_suomessa/6225061 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="yle.fi suspended in Finland">
{{cite news | last = Blencowe | first = Annette | date = July 20, 2012 | language = Finnish | title = Batman-elokuvan nettikampanja keskeytettiin Suomessa | trans_title = Batman movie online campaign was suspended in Finland | publisher = yle.fi | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/batman-elokuvan_markkinointikampanja_hyllytettiin_suomessa/6225061 | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="wsj 2012-07-21 no numbers">{{cite news | title = In Wake of Shooting, 'The Dark Knight Rises' Won't Report Early Box Office Figures | url = https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/07/21/in-wake-of-shooting-the-dark-knight-rises-wont-report-early-box-office-figures/ | access-date = July 21, 2012 | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721183857/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/07/21/in-wake-of-shooting-the-dark-knight-rises-wont-report-early-box-office-figures/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="wsj 2012-07-21 no numbers">
{{cite news | title = In Wake of Shooting, 'The Dark Knight Rises' Won't Report Early Box Office Figures | url = http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/07/21/in-wake-of-shooting-the-dark-knight-rises-wont-report-early-box-office-figures/ | accessdate =July 21, 2012| newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | date = July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="businessweek White Palmeri Lee">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-20/warner-bros-dot-said-to-pull-some-tv-ads-for-dark-knight |title=Warner Bros. Said to Pull Some TV Ads for 'Dark Knight' |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=July 20, 2012 |last1=White |first1=Michael |last2=Palmeri |first2=Christopher |last3=Lee |first3=Edmund |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102090216/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-20/warner-bros-dot-said-to-pull-some-tv-ads-for-dark-knight |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="businessweek White Palmeri Lee">
{{cite web |url= http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-20/warner-bros-dot-said-to-pull-some-tv-ads-for-dark-knight | title = Warner Bros. Said to Pull Some TV Ads for 'Dark Knight' | date = July 20, 2012 | accessdate =July 20, 2012 |last1=White |first1=Michael |last2=Palmeri |first2=Christopher |last3=Lee |first3=Edmund |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek | publisher = Bloomberg
}}
</ref>


<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 no numbers">{{cite magazine | title = Box office Update: Studios Not Releasing Numbers Today | url = http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/21/dark-knight-rises-no-box-office-today/ | access-date = July 21, 2012 | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722083453/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/21/dark-knight-rises-no-box-office-today/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="ew 2012-07-21 no numbers">
{{cite news | title = Box office Update: Studios Not Releasing Numbers Today | url = http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/21/dark-knight-rises-no-box-office-today/ | accessdate =July 21, 2012 | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="ew 2012-07-20 Nolan statement">{{cite magazine | url = http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement/ | title = Christopher Nolan on Theater Shooting: 'I Would Like to Express Our Profound Sorrow' | first = Will | last = Morley | date = July 20, 2012 | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721051410/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="ew 2012-07-20 Nolan statement">
{{cite web | url = http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement/ | title = Christopher Nolan on Theater Shooting: 'I Would Like to Express Our Profound Sorrow' | first = Will | last = Morley | date = July 20, 2012 | work = Entertainment Weekly | accessdate =July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="eonline Macatee">{{cite news | last = Macatee | first = Rebecca | title = Gangster Squad Trailer Yanked from Internet, Dark Knight Rises Following Colorado Shooting | url = http://www.eonline.com/news/331872/gangster-squad-trailer-yanked-from-internet-dark-knight-rises-following-colorado-shooting | access-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723061435/http://www.eonline.com/news/331872/gangster-squad-trailer-yanked-from-internet-dark-knight-rises-following-colorado-shooting | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="eonline Macatee">
{{cite news | last = Macatee | first = Rebecca | title = Gangster Squad Trailer Yanked from Internet, Dark Knight Rises Following Colorado Shooting | url = http://www.eonline.com/news/331872/gangster-squad-trailer-yanked-from-internet-dark-knight-rises-following-colorado-shooting | accessdate =July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="huffingtonpost Bindley">{{cite news | last = Bindley | first = Katherine | title = 'Gangster Squad' Trailer with Theater Shooting Scene Pulled from 'Dark Knight' by Warner Bros. (UPDATED) | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/gangster-squad-trailer-be_n_1690073.html | access-date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722052522/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/gangster-squad-trailer-be_n_1690073.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="huffingtonpost Bindley">
{{cite news | last = Bindley | first = Katherine | title = 'Gangster Squad' Trailer with Theater Shooting Scene Pulled from 'Dark Knight' by Warner Bros. (UPDATED) | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/gangster-squad-trailer-be_n_1690073.html | accessdate =July 20, 2012| newspaper = [[Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="deadline Finke">{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2012/07/warner-bros-paired-dark-knight-rises-with-trailer-of-gangster-shooting-up-movie-theater-which-studio-didnt-take-down-until-i-complained-304239/ | title = Warner Bros Pulls Trailer of Gangster Shooting Up Movie Theater | last = Finke | first = Nikki | website = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | access-date = July 20, 2012 | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722011811/http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/warner-bros-paired-dark-knight-rises-with-trailer-of-gangster-shooting-up-movie-theater-which-studio-didnt-take-down-until-i-complained/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="deadline Finke">
{{cite web | url = http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/warner-bros-paired-dark-knight-rises-with-trailer-of-gangster-shooting-up-movie-theater-which-studio-didnt-take-down-until-i-complained/ | title = Warner Bros Pulls Trailer of Gangster Shooting Up Movie Theater | last = Finke | first = Nikki | publisher = [[Deadline.com]] | accessdate =July 20, 2012
}}
</ref>


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<ref name="HRCA 2012-07-26 Lutz">
<ref name="HRCA 2012-07-26 Lutz">
{{cite news | last = Lutz | first = Richard | date = July 26, 2012 | title = Aurora Gun Massacre | publisher = HRCA | url = http://www.hrc-australia.org/news.html | accessdate =July 26, 2012
{{cite news | last = Lutz | first = Richard | date = July 26, 2012 | title = Aurora Gun Massacre | publisher = HRCA | url = http://www.hrc-australia.org/news.html | access-date =July 26, 2012
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<ref name="Welsh072012">{{cite news | last = Welsh | first = Teresa | date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = U.S. News & World Report | title = Should the Colorado Theater Shooting Spur More Gun Control? | url = https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/07/20/should-the-colorado-theater-shooting-spur-more-gun-control | access-date = July 30, 2012 | archive-date = July 31, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120731064108/http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/07/20/should-the-colorado-theater-shooting-spur-more-gun-control | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Welsh072012">
{{cite news | last = Welsh | first = Teresa | date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = US News and World Report | title = Should the Colorado Theater Shooting Spur More Gun Control? | url = http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/07/20/should-the-colorado-theater-shooting-spur-more-gun-control | accessdate =July 30, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="chicagotribune Blond">{{cite news | last = Blond | first = Becka | date = July 21, 2012 | title = Tearful Vigils Remember Victims of Aurora Massacre | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-nn-colorado-shooting-vigil-20120720,0,5468261.story | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130102061244/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-nn-colorado-shooting-vigil-20120720,0,5468261.story | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 2, 2013 | access-date = July 21, 2012 }}</ref>
<ref name="chicagotribune Blond">
{{cite news | last = Blond | first = Becka | date = July 21, 2012 | title = Tearful Vigils Remember Victims of Aurora Massacre | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-nn-colorado-shooting-vigil-20120720,0,5468261.story | accessdate =July 21, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="hollywoodreporter wb donation">{{cite news | last = Belloni | first = Matthew | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Warner Bros. To Make 'Substantial' Donation to Colorado Shooting Victims | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-warner-bros-donation-353175 | access-date = July 24, 2012 | archive-date = July 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120724085714/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-warner-bros-donation-353175 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="hollywoodreporter wb donation">
{{cite news | last = Belloni | first = Matthew | date = July 23, 2012 | title = Warner Bros. To Make 'Substantial' Donation to Colorado Shooting Victims | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-knight-rises-shooting-warner-bros-donation-353175 | accessdate =July 24, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="cnn 2012-07-20 sec steps">{{cite news | title = Security Stepped Up Nationwide in Wake of Colorado Movie Theater Shooting | publisher = CNN | date = July 21, 2012 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-shooting-security/index.html | access-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-date = July 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722102809/http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-shooting-security/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="cnn 2012-07-20 sec steps">
{{cite news | title = Security Stepped Up Nationwide in Wake of Colorado Movie Theater Shooting | publisher = CNN | date = July 21, 2012 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-shooting-security/index.html | accessdate =July 23, 2012
}}
</ref>


<ref name="beefup">{{cite news | title = Colorado Shooting 2012: Witness Says Gunman Shot Anyone Trying To Leave | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/colorado-shooting-2012-_n_1688980.html | access-date = July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[The Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012 | first = Elyse | last = Siegel | archive-date = July 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723055119/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/colorado-shooting-2012-_n_1688980.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="beefup">
{{cite news | title = Colorado Shooting 2012: Witness Says Gunman Shot Anyone Trying To Leave | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/colorado-shooting-2012-_n_1688980.html | accessdate =July 20, 2012 | newspaper = [[Huffington Post]] | date = July 20, 2012 | first=Elyse | last=Siegel
}}
</ref>


<!-- The following references appeared in the reflist but were not used in the prior text. Please return them to the reflist once they have been correctly cited in the main article.
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<ref name="colaradoterrorist">
<ref name="colaradoterrorist">
{{cite news | title = Why Isn’t the Colorado Shooter Considered a Terrorist? | work = [[The Dean's Report]] | url = http://thedeansreport.com/item/38-terroristcolorado | accessdate =July 24, 2012
{{cite news | title = Why Isn’t the Colorado Shooter Considered a Terrorist? | work = [[The Dean's Report]] | url = http://thedeansreport.com/item/38-terroristcolorado | access-date =July 24, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>
<ref name="amctheatres aurora">
<ref name="amctheatres aurora">
{{cite web | title = AMC Theatres Statement About Aurora, Co. Incident | date = July 21, 2012 | publisher = AMC Theatres | url = http://www.amctheatres.com/aurora | accessdate =July 22, 2012
{{cite web | title = AMC Theatres Statement About Aurora, Co. Incident | date = July 21, 2012 | publisher = AMC Theatres | url = http://www.amctheatres.com/aurora | access-date =July 22, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="CBS 2012-07-21 boobys">
<ref name="CBS 2012-07-21 boobys">
{{cite news | title = Aurora, Colo. Shooting: Cops may set off suspect's booby traps | date = July 21, 2012 | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57477198-504083/aurora-colo-shooting-cops-may-set-off-suspects-booby-traps/|publisher=CBS News | accessdate =July 21, 2012
{{cite news | title = Aurora, Colo. Shooting: Cops may set off suspect's booby traps | date = July 21, 2012 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aurora-colo-shooting-cops-may-set-off-suspects-booby-traps/|publisher=CBS News | access-date =July 21, 2012
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="Fox 2012-07-20 delay-probe">
<ref name="Fox 2012-07-20 delay-probe">
{{cite news | url = http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/20/police-work-to-id-victims-colorado-massacre-delay-probe-suspect-apartment/ | title = Authorities disarm trip wire, first explosive device in Colorado movie theater massacre suspect's apartment |publisher=Fox News Channel | date = July 22, 2012 | accessdate =July 21, 2012
{{cite news | url = https://www.foxnews.com/us/police-describe-colorado-shooting-as-calculated-and-deliberate-say-it-may-have-been-planned-for-months | title = Authorities disarm trip wire, first explosive device in Colorado movie theater massacre suspect's apartment |publisher=Fox News Channel | date = July 22, 2012 | access-date =July 21, 2012
}}{{verify source|article changed|date=July 2012
}}{{verify source|article changed|date=July 2012
}}
}}
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{{sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:Aurora shooting |b=no |n=Shooting in Colorado movie theater leaves 12 dead, 58 others injured |q=2012 Aurora shooting |s=no |v=no |species=no}}
{{sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:Aurora shooting |b=no |n=Shooting in Colorado movie theater leaves 12 dead, 58 others injured |q=2012 Aurora shooting |s=no |v=no |species=no}}


'''Maps of crime scene'''
;Maps of crime scene
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/aurora-colorado-theater-shooting/ Map of theater, parking lot, and diagram of the charges] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215825429070503534994.0004c54220ecf36ae8b71&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=39.670199,-104.886475&spn=0.184986,0.411987&z=11&source=embed Map of theater, suspect's apartment and hospitals – larger version] via [[Google]]
* [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21116739/map-aurora-theater-shooting Map of theater, suspect's apartment, and hospitals] at ''[[The Denver Post]]''
* [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21116739/map-aurora-theater-shooting Map of theater, suspect's apartment, and hospitals] at ''[[The Denver Post]]''
* [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/20/us/The-Shooting-in-Aurora.html Map of crime scene] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/20/us/The-Shooting-in-Aurora.html Map and photographs of crime scene] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
;Photos

* [https://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/aurora_colorado_theater_shooti.html "Aurora Colorado theater shooting: The Big Picture"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]''. July 23, 2012.
'''Raw audio'''
* [http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e91_1342808686&p=1 Aurora Fire Department raw audio], July 20, 2012

'''Photos'''
* [http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/aurora_colorado_theater_shooti.html "Aurora Colorado theater shooting: The Big Picture"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]''. July 23, 2012.

{{Notable Shooting in the US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}


{{The Dark Knight trilogy}}
<!-- Do NOT add categories relating to spree shootings, which occur in multiple locations. This event did not. -->
{{Aurora, Colorado}}
{{Mass shootings in the United States by deaths}}
{{Mass shootings in the United States in the 2010s}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Aurora Shooting}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aurora theater shooting, 2012}}
[[Category:2010s crimes in Colorado]]
[[Category:2012 Aurora theater shooting]]
[[Category:2012 in Colorado]]
[[Category:2012 in Colorado]]
[[Category:2012 mass shootings in the United States]]
[[Category:2012 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:2012 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Colorado]]
[[Category:Attacks on cinemas]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Colorado]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Colorado]]
[[Category:History of Aurora, Colorado]]
[[Category:History of Aurora, Colorado]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2012]]
[[Category:Incidents of violence against girls]]
[[Category:Mass murder in the United States]]
[[Category:July 2012 crimes in the United States]]
[[Category:July 2012 events in the United States]]
[[Category:Mass murder in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mass murder in the United States in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in the United States]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in the United States]]
[[Category:Murder in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mass shootings involving AR-15–style rifles]]
[[Category:Mass shootings involving Glock pistols]]
[[Category:Mass shootings involving shotguns]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2012]]
[[Category:Massacres in the United States]]
[[Category:The Dark Knight Trilogy]]

Latest revision as of 23:43, 25 December 2024

2012 Aurora theater shooting
Location of the shootings
Century 16 at Town Center at Aurora
Bottom left: Map of Colorado with Aurora marked
Top: Map of central Aurora
Bottom right: Town Center at Aurora and the location of the Century 16 multiplex
Location14300 East Alameda Avenue,
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Coordinates39°42′21″N 104°49′14″W / 39.7059°N 104.8206°W / 39.7059; -104.8206
DateJuly 20, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-07-20)
c. 12:38 a.m. – c. 12:45 a.m.[1] (MDT UTC−06:00)
TargetAdults watching The Dark Knight Rises
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, tear gas attack
Weapons
Deaths12
Injured70 (58 by gunfire, 4 from tear gas, 8 from fleeing accidents)[3]
PerpetratorJames Eagan Holmes
MotiveDisputed:
VerdictGuilty on all counts
Convictions
Sentence12 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 3,318 years

On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, United States, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. Dressed in tactical clothing, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms. Twelve people were killed and 70 others were injured, 58 of them by gunfire.

Holmes was arrested minutes later in his car outside the cinema. Earlier, he had rigged his apartment with homemade explosives and incendiary devices. These were defused by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad a day after the shooting.

Fearing copycat crimes, movie theaters showing the same film across the United States increased their security. Gun sales increased in Colorado, and political debates were generated about gun control in the United States.

Holmes confessed to the shooting but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Arapahoe County prosecutors sought the death penalty. The trial began on April 27, 2015. On July 16 of that year, Holmes was convicted of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of possessing explosives. On August 7, the jury deadlocked on whether to impose the death penalty. On August 26, Holmes was given 12 life sentences, one for every person he killed; he also received 3,318 years for the attempted murders of those he wounded and for rigging his apartment with explosives.[6]

Events

[edit]

Shooting

[edit]

The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall[7] at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue.[8] Police said that Holmes bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row. About 20 minutes into the film, he left theater 9 through an emergency exit door beside the movie screen, with direct access to the lightly used parking area at the back of the complex, while propping the door slightly open with a plastic tablecloth holder.[9] There were about 400 people inside theater 9.[10]

Holmes went to his car (which he had parked near the exit door), changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.[11][12] About 30 minutes into the movie, police say, around 12:30 a.m.,[13] he reentered the theater through the exit door. Holmes was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest, a ballistic helmet, bullet-resistant leggings, a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector, and tactical gloves.[14] He was listening to a techno radio station, which was playing the song "Becoming Insane" by Infected Mushroom, through a set of headphones so that he could not hear anything from people in the theater.[15][16] Initially, few in the audience considered Holmes to be a threat. Some witnesses thought he was wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed he was playing a prank,[17] while others thought he was part of a special effects setup for the film's premiere, or a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.[18]

Holmes reportedly threw one canister towards the left[19] side of the theatre, emitting a gas or smoke, that partially obscured the audience members' vision, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation.[20] He fired a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15[21] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which eventually malfunctioned.[21][22][23] Finally, he fired a .40-caliber Glock 22 Gen4 handgun.[24][25] He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.[18] A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film.[3][7] Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began, and staff told people in Theater 8 to evacuate.[26]

Holmes fired 76 shots in the theater: 6 from the shotgun, 65 from the semi-automatic rifle, and 5 from the .40-caliber handgun.[27]

Police response

[edit]

The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made around midnight, prior to his attack, as can be heard in the opening statements of the prosecution, as well as the recorded transcript of his interview with the FBI. At 12:39 a.m., after he began shooting, other victims began to call the Police who arrived within 90 seconds[28] and found three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun, and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater.[29] Some people reported the shooting via Twitter or text messaging rather than calling the police; officers were already at the theater by the time that the tweets were sent.[22] Ambulances were hindered by chaos and congestion in the parking lot, and they were unable to reach the back of the complex where police had pulled the injured out through the emergency exit doors of Theatre 9. Sgt. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene, sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars.[30]

At about 12:45 a.m., police officer Jason Oviatt apprehended Holmes[12][31] behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. Because of his tactical clothing, Holmes was at first mistaken for another police officer.[32] He was described as being calm and "disconnected" during his arrest.[31] Two federal officials said that Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "The Joker", although authorities later declined to confirm this.[33][34] Three days later, at his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado, Holmes's hair appeared reddish-orange.[33][35][36] Later, the Colorado district attorney who prosecuted Holmes said he never called himself The Joker, and blamed the federal officials for the rumor.[37] The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the shooter's car, including another Glock 22 handgun.[38] Holmes was found carrying a first-aid kit and spike strips, which he later admitted in an interview he had planned to use if police either shot at or chased him.[39]

Following his arrest, Holmes was initially jailed at the Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch.[40] The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting.[41] Speaking on behalf of himself and FBI agent James Yacone, who was in charge of the investigation, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said he was confident that the shooter acted alone.[28]

Discovery of explosive devices

[edit]
A view of the multi-jurisdictional effort to clear the shooter's apartment of booby traps. The corner of his apartment building is visible between the white van and the fire truck. Note the white-painted bomb-disposal trailer.

When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices.[14] Police evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, which was about 5 mi (8 km) north of the cinema.[42] Holmes' apartment complex is limited to University of Colorado Medical Center students, patients, and employees.[43][44] One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device that was wired to the apartment's front door, allowing a remote-controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives.[45] The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen and filled with at least 30 US gal (110 L) of gasoline.[46]

Neighbors reported loud music from the apartment around midnight on the night of the massacre, and one went to his door to tell him she was calling the police; she said the door seemed to be unlocked, but she chose not to open it.[47][48][49]

A police official said a Batman mask was found in the apartment.[50] On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment.[51] Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building.[52]

Casualties

[edit]

Twelve fatalities were reported along with 70 injuries.[53][54] Seventy were hit by bullets, and were reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history.[55][56] This figure was not surpassed until the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, which killed 49 people and injured 58 others for a combined total of 107 casualties.[57] Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater.[3] The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.[58]

Fatalities

[edit]

Ten victims died at the scene and two more were pronounced dead in local hospitals. The people murdered were:[59][60]

Ghawi had survived the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto that occurred a month prior.[63]

Injuries

[edit]

The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital.[64][failed verification] On July 25, three of the five hospitals treating victims announced they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely.[65]

Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, suffered critical injuries after being shot in the chest. She was rendered a paraplegic. She miscarried a week after the attack.[66]

Caleb Medley, the last victim discharged, left University Hospital on September 12. He had serious brain damage and an injury to his right eye from a shotgun blast to the head and underwent three brain surgeries. He required a feeding tube, had severely impaired movement, and could no longer speak.[67][68][69]

The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families.[70] In September, victims and their families received surveys asking about their preferences for how collected funds should be distributed, either by dividing it equally among victims or through a needs-assessment process.[71]

On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced that each family of the dead would receive $220,000.[72]

Court proceedings

[edit]

Holmes' booking photo was released, and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings.[73][74][75]

On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes, including 24 counts of first-degree murder, 116 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illegal possession of explosives. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand the opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions.[76] Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who was the trial judge overseeing the case, placed a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. Media organizations challenged the sealing of the court file.[77]

On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he is mentally ill and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. The disclosure was made at a court hearing in Centennial, Colorado, where news media organizations asked a judge to unseal court documents in the case.[78] Prosecutors alleged on August 24, 2012, that Holmes told a classmate he wanted to kill people four months before the shooting.[79]

A judge ruled on August 30 that a notebook written by Holmes, in which he allegedly described a violent attack, was covered by physician–patient privilege because it was addressed to his psychiatrist. This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. Prosecutors dropped their request for access to the notebook on September 20, 2012.[80]

On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing, the public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order. It began on January 7. Prosecutors offered their case as to why the trial should proceed, and defense lawyers argued that it should not. At the conclusion, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial.[81][clarification needed]

Also on January 7, lawyers for both sides argued whether to admit four unspecified prescription bottles and immunization records investigators had seized from Holmes' apartment when they searched it in July 2012, considering doctor-patient confidentiality laws. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep the items.[82]

On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty.[83] On April 1, the prosecution announced it had declined the offer. Arapahoe County district attorney George Brauchler said: "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death."[84]

Jury selection started on January 20, 2015.[85] It ended on April 15, 2015.[86]

Trial

[edit]

The trial started on April 27, 2015. The jury consisted of 19 women and five men, two of whom had connections to the Columbine High School massacre. Arapahoe County prosecutors said that Holmes was sane during the shooting and intended to kill all 400 people in the theater, while Holmes' lawyers said he had a psychotic episode during the attack.[87]

On May 7, an FBI agent displayed pieces of evidence at the trial, including Holmes' body armor, an arsenal of weapons, unfired ammunition, and a helmet with strands of his dyed orange hair.[86][88] Jurors examined the evidence for thirty minutes.[89] Holmes was represented by the Colorado State Public Defender.[90]

On May 26, details of Holmes' notebook, reportedly found in a university mail room addressed to his psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, were entered into evidence at the trial for the first time. The notebook elaborated on Holmes' obsession to kill since ten years prior to the shooting, his dissatisfaction with life and finding work, as well as health issues. It also had details of his planning for the shooting, which prosecutors said indicated Holmes premeditated the attack.[91][92] On May 27, Dr. William Reid, a court-appointed psychiatrist, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane. Reid and another doctor evaluated Holmes in December 2013 and determined that he understood what he was doing.[93] On June 8, a second psychiatrist, Jeffrey Metzner, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane during the shooting, and suffers from schizoaffective disorder.[94]

On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case.[95] In the following week, two additional jurors were dismissed; the first due to emotional problems following the shooting of a family member, the second for recognizing a survivor who was wounded in the massacre.[96][97]

On July 9, Judge Carlos Samour asked Holmes if he would testify in court, and advised him of his rights to do so. Holmes chose not to testify.[98]

By July 10, the prosecution and the defense rested their cases. Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning.[99]

Verdict and sentencing

[edit]

On July 16, after jury deliberations, Holmes was found guilty of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possessing illegal explosives, and a sentence enhancement of a crime of violence.[100] The two murder convictions for each death were first-degree murder or attempted murder after deliberation, and first-degree murder or attempted murder with extreme indifference.[101]

The sentencing phase began on July 22.[102][103] On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. However, the jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire.[104]

On July 27, Holmes' sister stated in her testimony that her brother became withdrawn from the family after they moved from Salinas to San Diego during his early teenage years. On July 28, Holmes' father pleaded for his son's life, stating that he is severely mentally ill. He displayed photos of camping trips and family vacations with Holmes to the jury.[105] On July 30, Holmes' lawyers made a final appeal to the jurors, urging them to consider mental illness in his sentencing despite their rejection of the insanity defense used in the trial.[106] The appeal for clemency was rejected on August 3 under the basis that mitigating factors such as mental illness did not outweigh aggravating factors such as the number of casualties in the massacre.[107][108]

Holmes was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 7 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision over sentencing him to death.[109][110] Formal sentencing began on August 24 and was expected to last for three days.[111] At the end of the hearing on August 26, Samour formally sentenced Holmes to 12 life imprisonment sentences without parole and a maximum of 3,318 additional years on attempted murder and explosives possession convictions.[112]

Reactions

[edit]

Government

[edit]
President Barack Obama visiting shooting victims at University of Colorado Hospital on July 22, 2012

The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site in Aurora.[113] President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff, in tribute to the victims, until July 25.[114] Both Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the 2012 presidential election.[115][116] On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora.[117][118][119][120][121] Many world leaders sent their condolences, including Queen Elizabeth II,[122] French President François Hollande,[123] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,[124] Russian President Vladimir Putin,[125] and Pope Benedict XVI.[126]

Memorial across the street from the Aurora Century movie theater, in September 2012

Entertainment industry

[edit]

I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.

—Director Christopher Nolan's reaction to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado.[127]

Warner Bros., the distributor of The Dark Knight Rises, said it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in France, Mexico, and Japan,[128][129] scaled down its marketing campaign in Finland,[130][131] and decided not to report box office figures for the movie until July 23.[132] Some television advertisements for the film were also canceled.[133] Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21.[134] Warner Bros. reportedly made a "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to benefit victims.[135]

Christopher Nolan, the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating".[136] Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film series, privately visited victims on July 24.[137] Members of the Colorado Rockies baseball team also visited victims.[138] Members of the Denver Broncos also called or visited individuals at the hospitals.[139]

Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film Gangster Squad, which preceded The Dark Knight Rises screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora),[140] because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns.[141][142] The film's release date was rescheduled to January 2013, and the theater scene was replaced by a new sequence in a different setting.[143]

In the wake of the shooting, DC Comics delayed the release of Batman Incorporated #3,[144] which includes a scene in which a female Leviathan agent brandishes a handgun in a classroom full of children while disguised as a schoolteacher.[145] Warner Bros. Animation reportedly edited the Cartoon Network series Beware the Batman to make the firearms look less realistic.[146]

Hans Zimmer, who composed the soundtrack for The Dark Knight Rises, recorded a choral song entitled "Aurora" in honor of the victims.[147] The song was sold for donations that went to a fund for the victims.[148]

Cinemark agreed to pay any funeral expenses incurred by the deceased victims' families not covered by the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.[149] Cinemark closed the entire Century Aurora 16 multiplex in the wake of the shooting but reopened January 17, 2013, with a 40-minute ceremony led by Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, followed by a showing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.[150] As of 2020, Cinemark Theatres has not released any photographs or video evidence.[151]

Soon after the shooting, police departments and cinemas across the United States and around the world increased security for fear of copycat incidents.[152][153] In New York City, police officers were deployed to theaters screening the new film.[154]

The National Association of Theatre Owners distributed checklists from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures".[155][156] AMC Theatres announced it would "not allow any guests into our theatres in costumes that make other guests feel uncomfortable and we will not permit face-covering masks or fake weapons inside our buildings".[157] Security Director News raised the possibility in a July 23 article that "the massacre could be a Virginia Tech for movie theaters, causing security to become a bigger part of the conversation and more stringent security procedures to be adopted at theaters across the country."[158]

Civil litigation

[edit]

Cinemark Theaters

[edit]

Three victims sued Cinemark Theatres in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on September 21, 2012, for the company's alleged negligence in failing to provide adequate safety and security measures.[159] Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons."[160]

In response, Cinemark's representation filed a motion to dismiss on September 27, 2012, on the grounds that there was no liability under Colorado law for failure to prevent an unforeseeable criminal act.[161] Cinemark's motion quoted extensively from the landmark California appellate opinion[162] that held McDonald's had no duty of care to prevent the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre. On October 30, 2012, the court hearing the criminal case against Holmes denied a motion by some of the survivors that would have let them access sealed evidence for review in their civil action against the theater chain.[163][164] On January 24, 2013, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty issued a recommendation that most of the claims be dismissed, as they were not allowable under Colorado law. He also said claims alleging violations of the Colorado Premises Liability Act could proceed.[165]

Judge R. Brooke Jackson stated that for theaters today, "One might reasonably believe that a mass shooting incident in a theater was likely enough (that is, not just a possibility) to be a foreseeable next step in the history of such acts by deranged individuals".[166] Attorney Christina Habas, who represents several theater victims, has said, "We essentially don't have a single photograph, a single piece of evidence that we can show to a jury". In June 2016, a federal judge dismissed the last claims in the lawsuit.[167]

In a separate lawsuit in state court, Cinemark was sued by families of the victims, who alleged the theater should have taken greater measures to prevent such a shooting. In May 2016, after years of legal debate, a jury took three hours to deliver a unanimous verdict that the theater chain was not liable to any degree.[168] The judge allowed Cinemark Theatres to submit a bill of costs to the plaintiffs to recover expenses due to the litigation, as Colorado state law allows for prevailing parties. In September 2016, Cinemark dropped all claims for reimbursement of legal fees.[169]

University of Colorado

[edit]

On January 14, 2013, Chantel Blunk, the estranged wife and widow of victim Jonathan Blunk, sued the University of Colorado in federal court. She alleged that a school psychiatrist could have prevented the slaughter by having Holmes detained after he admitted he "fantasized about killing a lot of people".[170] This type of lawsuit had been anticipated in an August 2012 article co-authored by bioethicist Arthur Caplan which discussed the applicability of the landmark California Supreme Court decision in Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976) to the facts of the Aurora shooting.[171]

Community center

[edit]

A grassroots community center, Aurora Strong Resilience Center, was established by community leaders, elected officials, and mental health professionals, as a response to the shooting. The center offers therapy for people who experienced traumatic stress from the theater shooting, and also people who were victims of other crimes and refugees who experienced a traumatic event in their country of origin before coming to the U.S.[172][173]

Aftermath

[edit]

Sale of guns and gun control debate

[edit]

Colorado gun sales spiked after the shooting, with the number of background checks for people seeking to purchase a firearm in the state increasing to 2,887, up 43% from the previous week.[174] Gun sales in Washington, Florida, California, and Georgia also increased.[175] The shooting reignited the political debate on gun control, with one issue being the "easy access" Holmes had two semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, which were banned federally from 1994 to 2004.[176][177] The results of a survey released on July 30, 2012, by the Pew Research Center suggested the incident did not change Americans' views on the issue.[178]

Campaign against media coverage

[edit]

In 2015, a campaign titled "No Notoriety" was started by the parents of Alexander Teves, who died in the shooting. According to Teves' father, the campaign's incentive is to encourage media outlets to limit the usage of the suspect's name and photos when reporting about the Aurora shooting, as well as other mass shootings that receive national media coverage. In an interview on CNN, Teves' parents said they and the relatives of other victims believe the mass media coverage of Holmes' name and photo may inspire others to commit mass shootings for notoriety.[179][180]

Theater

[edit]

The Century 16 theater where the shooting occurred was rebranded as the Century Aurora theater by its parent company Cinemark Theatres. Despite heavy criticism from families and loved ones of victims,[181][182] the theater was not demolished and reopened to the public after cleaning and renovation on January 25, 2013, nearly 6 months after the shooting.[181] The reopening ceremony, which was boycotted by opponents of the theater's reopening, included a memorial service and a screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.[181] Theater room nine, where the actual shooting occurred, was combined with an adjoining room into a new XD theater room.[182][183]

Memorial

[edit]

A memorial to the victims of the attack was installed near Aurora Municipal Center, some 850 m (929.57 yd) from the theater, and dedicated on July 19, 2018, one day before the sixth anniversary of the attack. It consists of a park-like dell with 83 abstract birds, one for each victim. Thirteen of the birds, with translucent wings, are on a center column and represent the twelve dead and the unborn child. The memorial, titled "Ascentiate", was designed by artist Douwe Blumberg.[184]

Copycats

[edit]

On July 22, 2015, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, two brothers murdered five of their family members; one of the perpetrators claimed that he and his brother planned the act for some time and intended to commit a shooting spree outside the family, hoping it would rival and even outdo both the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the Aurora theater shooting.[185][186][187][188]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Aurora, Colo theater shooting timeline, facts". abc7.com. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Wade, Diane A. (July 23, 2012). "James Holmes appears in court being accused of killing 12 people in Aurora cinema shooting". BelleNews. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Officials release complete list of injured victims in Aurora massacre". Fox News Channel. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  4. ^ "Documents: Holmes Wanted to Kill to be Famous". USA Today.
  5. ^ "Psychiatrist: Much is still hidden in theater shooter's mind". Associated Press News. August 5, 2018.
  6. ^ O'Neill, Ann (August 26, 2015). "Theater shooter Holmes gets 12 life sentences, plus 3,318 years". CNN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Brown, Jennifer (July 21, 2012). "12 shot dead, 58 wounded in Aurora movie theater during Batman premier". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  8. ^ Parker, Ryan; Lee, Kurtis; Ingold, John; Steffen, Jordan; Brown, Jennifer (July 20, 2012). "Family identifies 27-year-old victim of Aurora theater shooting". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  9. ^ Asmar, Melanie (January 10, 2013). "James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting". Blogs.westword.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  10. ^ Ingold, John; Steffen, Jordan (April 25, 2015). "Long awaited trial begins for Aurora movie theater shooting defendant". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  11. ^ Carter, Chelsea J.; Pearson, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Gunman turns 'Batman' screening into real-life 'horror film'". CNN. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Aurora, Colo theater shooting timeline, facts". KABC-TV. July 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  13. ^ Bustillo, Miguel; Banjo, Shelly; Audi, Tamara (July 21, 2012). "Theater Rampage Jolts Nation". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Burnett, Sara; Fender, Jessica (July 20, 2012). "Aurora shooting suspect left apartment "booby trapped," music blaring". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  15. ^ Fenton, Lynne (2022). Aurora. Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-593-10129-2.
  16. ^ Raquel Villanueva and Associated Press, news source (April 26, 2015). "Aurora theater shooting trial adjourns for day". 9News. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  17. ^ Muskal, Michael (July 20, 2012). "Questions, but few answers, in Colorado shooting; 12 dead, dozens hurt". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Pilkington, Ed; Williams, Matt (July 20, 2012). "Colorado theater shooting: 12 shot dead during The Dark Knight Rises screening". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  19. ^ "Colo. theater trial adjourns for day after emotional 911 call". WBIR-TV. April 28, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates on Movie Shooting". Channel 7 – Denver. July 20, 2012. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Rifle failure that stopped yet more batman carnage". Daily Express. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Paul Toohey Horror inside a heart of Darkness". The Advertiser. July 28, 2012. pp. 52–61.
  23. ^ Fahrenthold, David A. (July 22, 2012). "Colorado shooting spree could have been worse; shooter's gun jammed, official says". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
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Maps of crime scene
Photos