US mourns victims of Batman cinema shooting

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: A vigil has been held for the victims of a deadly cinema shooting in Colorado. Mourners gathered in the Denver suburb of Aurora, where a gunman opened fire at a packed, midnight showing of the new Batman film – killing 12 people, reports Armenpress citing Euronews.

The deadly rampage also left nearly 60 people wounded. The suspected gunman, named as James Holmes, was arrested in a nearby car park. Police were unable to get into his apartment on Friday, which was said to be booby-trapped with explosives. Officers planned to send a robot into the property on Saturday. “I see an awful lot of wires, trip wires, jars full of ammunition, jars full of liquid, some of these things that look like mortar rounds. We have alot of challenges to get in there safely,” said Dan Oates, Aurora police chief. Police said 24-year-old Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself “the Joker,” referring to Batman’s comic-book nemesis.

“In the last 60 days he purchased four guns at local gun shops, and through the internet he purchased over 6,000 rounds of ammunition,” Oates added. Security has been stepped up at other US cinemas showing “The Dark Knight Rises” in the wake of what’s happened. Friday’s Paris premiere of the film was cancelled. Police believe James Holmes hurled a gas canister into the auditorium in Aurora before firing at least 71 shots. They say he was apprehended with an assault rifle, a shotgun and two handguns. Holmes, who is a medical student, is due to make his first court appearance on Monday.