Update: President cancels Florida appearance
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) _ President Barack Obama is cutting short a Florida campaign swing following the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting. The rampage has shaken up the presidential race. Obama issued a statement calling the shooting “horrific”. Republican Mitt Romney said he also was dismayed. Informed at dawn at his hotel near West Palm Beach, Fla., Obama plans to speak about the tragedy at a shortened campaign appearance in Fort Myers. He canceled plans to speak at a rally later near Orlando. Aides say Romney also will speak about the shooting at an event in Bow, N.H. Press secretary Jay Carney says Obama spoke by phone with FBI Director Robert
Mueller (MUHL’-ur) and counterterrorism chief John Brennan and has been told there does not appear to be any “nexus” with terrorism in the attack.
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal law enforcement officials say the suspect in last night’s deadly shooting in Colorado is James Holmes, a 24-year-old American. Officials believe Holmes killed a dozen people when he fired into a crowded movie theater in a Denver suburb. He was wearing a gas mask and set off an unknown gas in the theater. Holmes is in police custody, and the FBI says there is no indication that incident is tied to any terrorist groups. The federal law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity to
discuss an ongoing investigation.
UPDATE: At least 12 people killed at Colo. Batman showing
AURORA, Colo. (AP) _ At least 12 people were killed and 50 were being treated at Denver area hospitals after a shooting at a midnight showing of Batman, the youngest a 3-month-old baby. Twelve people were taken to the Medical Center of Aurora with gunshot wounds and ranged from minor to critical condition. Three were treated for chemical
exposure, most likely from tear gas. They ranged in age from 16 to 31. Denver Health had seven victims _ one in critical and the rest in fair condition. The University of Colorado hospital was treating 21 people, including the baby, for gunshot wounds. The oldest is 45. A 6-year-old was being treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where a total of six victims ranging were taken. The oldest patient there is 31. Their condition wasn’t known.
COLORADO SHOOTING-SCENE
UPDATE: Witness says Colorado gunman said nothing
AURORA, Colo. (AP) _ Theater No. 9 at a Colorado multiplex was packed with moviegoers just getting into a midnight screening of the newest Batman film when a man clad in black and wearing a gas mask burst through the door. According to witness reports to local media, the man threw a canister which erupted in smoke before opening fire ndiscriminately on the crowd. One witness tells KUSA the gunman said nothing before or during the early Friday shooting. Those in an adjacent theater say the bullets pierced the walls. Some believed the gunfire was part of the movie. One man in the theater says when he heard moaning and knew people were in pain. Video showed people being carried away. At least 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded in the attack.
COLORADO SHOOTING-OBAMA
Obama says he is `shocked’ by Colo. Shooting
MANALAPAN, Fla. (AP) _ President Barack Obama says he is “shocked and saddened” by a deadly shooting at a suburban Denver movie theater. He is urging the nation to “come together as one American family.” Obama says he and first lady Michelle Obama were shocked by the “horrific and tragic” shooting. Obama says his administration will do everything they can to support the people of Aurora, Colo. A gunman opened fire shortly after midnight local time at a theater on the opening night of the latest Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Authorities say 12 people were killed and at least 50 others were injured. Obama was in Florida at the time of the shooting and was expected to make a campagin appearance in Winter Park but that was canceled. He will hold a press confrence at 11:20 a.m. The White House says Obama was informed of the shooting by his Homeland Security Advisor, John Brennan, at 5:26 a.m. EDT.
