2012 Aurora shooting
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
Location	14300 E. Alameda Avenue, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Coordinates	39.7059°N 104.8206°WCoordinates:  39.7059°N 104.8206°W
Date	July 20, 2012 12:38 am – 12:45 am (MDT)
Attack type	Mass shooting
Weapon(s)	Tear gas grenade Smith & Wesson M&P15rifle Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun 2 Glock 22 handguns[1]
Deaths	12
Injured	58
Suspected perpetrator	James Eagan Holmes (in custody)

On Friday, July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside of a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. A gunman, dressed in tactical clothing, set off clothing, set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.[2] The sole suspect is James Eagan Holmes, who was arrested outside the cinema minutes later.

Shooting
The shooting occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark), located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mallshopping mall[2]at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue.[3] 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.

It is alleged that he then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.protective clothing, and retrieved his guns.[4][5] About 30 minutes into the film, police say, around 12:38 am,[6] he re-entered the theater through the exit door. He was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest, a ballistic helmet, bullet-resistant leggings, a throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves.tactical gloves.[7] 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 prank,[8] 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.[9]

It is also alleged that the gunman threw a canister emitting a gas or smoke, partially obscuring the audience members' vision, making their throats and skin itch, and causing eye irritation.[10] He then 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[11] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which malfunctioned after reportedly firing fewer than 30 rounds.[11][12][13] Finally, he fired a Glock 22 handgun.[14][15] He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles.[9] Some bullets passed through the wall and hit people in the adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film.[2] Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm systembegan sounding soon after the attack began and staff told people in theater 8 to evacuate.[16] One witness said that she was hesitant to leave because someone yelled that there was someone shooting in the lobby and that they shouldn't leave.[17]

The first phone calls to emergency services via emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39 am Police arrived within 90 seconds[18] and found at least three .40-caliber magazines, a shotgun and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater.[19] Some people reported the shooting via tweets or text messaging rather than calling the police.[12] Some of the first police on the scene decided not to wait for ambulances and took victims to hospitals in their squad cars.[20]

About 12:45 am, police apprehended Holmes[5] behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. According to two federal officials, he had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker", although authorities later declined to confirm this.[21][22] Three days later, at his first court appearance inCentennial, Colorado, Holmes had reddish-orange hair.[21][23][24] The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the car, including anotherGlock 22 handgun.[25] Following his arrest, he was initially jailed at Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch.[26] The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses.[27] Investigators say that the shooter acted alone and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.[18]

Victims
Seventy people were shot or otherwise wounded,[28][29] reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history.[30][31][32] It is also the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.[33] Ten people died at the scene and two died in local hospitals. Those killed were:

Jonathan Blunk, age 24
Alexander J. Boik, age 18
Jesse Childress, age 29
Gordon Cowden, age 51
Jessica Ghawi, age 24
John Larimer, age 27
Matt McQuinn, age 27
Micayla Medek, age 23
Veronica Moser-Sullivan, age 6
Alex Sullivan, age 27
Alexander C. Teves, age 24
Rebecca Wingo, age 32[34]

The youngest injured shooting victim was three months old.[35] Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, was critically injured in the shooting and suffered a miscarriage a week after the attack.[36]

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, andUniversity Hospital, as well as at a makeshift hospital set up at the scene of the attack.[35] On July 25, three of the five hospitals treating victims announced that they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely.[37]

The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families.[38] 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.[39]

On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced each claimant will receive $220,000.[40]

Suspect
 

Main article: James Eagan Holmes

The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, shown with his hair dyed in a booking photo released July 23, 2012 by Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department

Court proceedings
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.[41][42][43]

On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes that included 24 counts of 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.[44] 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.