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CNN Newsroom

Massacre at Batman Premier

Aired July 20, 2012 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were watching a movie and, like, as one of the action scenes, like, you know, started up, like, gunshots were firing. And, like, we heard, like, explosions or something like -- to our left.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just chaos. You saw injured people. There was this one guy who was on all fours crawling. There was this girl spitting up blood.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gas bombs. As they were leaving. And then just gunshots all over the place. And it started in the theater that I had bought tickets to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Horror and tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, this morning after a mass shooting at a "Batman" movie premiere. So far, 12 dead and 38 injured. As a community searches for answers.

A special edition of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello. We welcome viewers from around the world watching on CNN International.

A night at the movies turned into a night of terror for moviegoers in Colorado after a gunman opens up a rampage. And here is the latest of what we know. Gunshots erupted just outside of Denver in an Aurora, Colorado, theater during an early morning screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in -- that is the new "Batman" movie.

Police say 12 people are dead, 38 more wounded. A 3-month-old baby is among the wounded. Police have a suspect in custody, a young man. A witness saw that man burst into the theater.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody kicked in the emergency exit and started throwing gas grenades and started shooting some people at random.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Was it movie theater number nine?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Number nine, which is the one I was in.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So what did you do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At first, it took me a second to realize what was actually going on. And as people were running away, I hit the ground so I wouldn't be hit.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So there were gas grenades there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's -- all I saw was -- I heard the sound of metal canisters clinging around, and then I saw plumes of smoke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A federal law enforcement official says the suspect had four weapons, a rifle, a shotgun, and two handguns. Officials say he acted alone.

Police searched the suspect's residence, and believe that there may be more explosives there. No explosions -- explosives, rather, have been found. We expect to hear more from police at a news conference in just a few hours.

The shooting happened inside the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora. This is a suburb of Denver.

A short time ago, reporter Suzanne from our affiliate KCNC spoke to a teenaged witness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE MCCARROLL, REPORTER, KCNC: You know, this is one of the younger witnesses we've met so far. This is 15-year-old William. Tell me what happened. What was your view?

WILLIAM, WITNESSED SHOOTINGS: Well, all I saw was a man bust open the entrance of the right corner. And he throws a tear grenade. And, you know, we were thinking at that point it's part of the show. You know? But then we realized he started shooting off some rounds and that's when we realized it was serious. There was a lot of screaming. And it was -- it was shocking.

MCCAROLL: How did you get out?

WILLIAM: Well, it was about that time that he started going up the stairs and reloading. That's when I figured it was a big weapon. And we just kind of crawled down the stairs and we ran. We just ran out the theater.

MCCAROLL: How close to you were -- was he?

WILLIAM: He was -- he was -- kind of at a far distance but, you know, close enough to do some damage, so.

MCCAROLL: You're young, but you were such a philosopher a minute ago. This is not what you expect when you go to the movies.

WILLIAM: It's not. Usually, you go to the -- at the movies to, you know, have a fun night, relax, and when something like this happens at a theater, you know, you just wonder if it's safe or not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, moments after the shooting, eyewitnesses started taking video and pictures on their cell phones. And the images started going up online. Check this one out. From inside the lobby of the theater.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're not moving, dude.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, shoot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's give you a better idea now of where this happened. The Aurora mall in Aurora, Colorado. As we told you, the Century 16 movie theater. Theater number nine specifically. This is just a few miles outside of Denver. The suspect was found in the parking lot behind the theater in his car.

And here is a chopper shot of the suspect's apartment complex in north Aurora. Not far from the theater, just a couple of miles, we understand. That building has been evacuated this morning while police search for possible explosives because apparently the suspect told officers that there might be explosives in that unit. But none so far have been found.

Aurora Police tell CNN that one man is in custody, and that there is no evidence of a second shooter.

Here is what we can tell you about that suspected shooter right now. The gunman is a 24-year-old white male. He was wearing a bulletproof vest, a mask, covering most of his face, except for his eyes, according to eyewitnesses, and carrying four guns in all. One of which federal officials describe as an assault rifle.

The same officials also say the suspect deployed tear gas just before firing into the crowd. The man was later apprehended in a parking lot at the rear of the theater where he did not apparently resist arrest. A motive for this attack still unknown.

We're also hearing from witnesses who either saw the shooter or spoke to those who did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALEX, INSIDE MOVIE COMPLEX DURING SHOOTING: A man about six feet tall, taller than her, kicked through the door. And he was in -- like she said a riot helmet. She said he was -- had a bulletproof vest on. You know, she said that he was completely covered in all black with goggles. And she said that after that point, when she saw that he was holding a shotgun, her and her boyfriend dropped to the floor and just kind of started to crawl to see if they could get away.

They got up and they started to run through the emergency exit. She said that when she turned around, all she saw was the guy slowly making his way up the stairs and just firing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At people?

ALEX: Just picking random people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Horrific night. The FBI now part of this investigation.

Tom Fuentes is a former assistant director of the FBI. He's also a CNN contributor and joining me right now from Washington.

Tom, good to see you.

TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: So give us an idea, what kind of role the FBI would be playing here.

FUENTES: Well, the FBI would be trying to determine if this individual was a member of any other terrorist organization, possibly a neo-Nazi group or some type of anti-American, anti-social group of individuals who may do -- excuse me, may do other shootings at other locations. So far, there's no indication of that. But that would be one of the primary reasons.

Secondly, they would try to determine his background. Does he have military training? Has he lived in other states or other countries? Are there other people that should be contacted, family, friends, colleagues, to determine whether he had been in contact with them or gave any indication of having this kind of violent tendency.

WHITFIELD: And other orders of business then, as it pertains to the suspect, the crime scene, the suspect's apartment where that search continues right now, if they have already ruled out -- because some indications are reports that they have ruled out that he is part of any national or international, you know, group, that this may be a lone wolf. What are the other orders of business that the FBI would be attending to?

FUENTES: Well, first of all, I don't know that they could rule that out so quickly. You know, currently, it's a little after 7:00 a.m. in Colorado. They would have to get records from the Internet service provider that he may use to go online for his e-mail messaging, his phone records, other records of his, travel records, visa, credit cards. Let's say at gas stations.

So to be able to rule that out in the middle of the night might be difficult, not having the business records that they would need. Now they would be trying to seek all of that on an emergency basis. But I know from past experience it takes a little bit of time to get all of that and to make a definitive ruling that he's not part of some other organization.

And you also have to fear copycat shooters, that this could inspire somebody else right now to go out and do something similar today, tomorrow, or next week.

WHITFIELD: And right now as investigators try to comb through the apartment, look at it, and continue to comb over the vehicle, would the FBI be involved in that or is that strictly local police at this point?

FUENTES: Well, a number of agencies would be involved. The police would be contacting the FBI, the ATF, other federal agencies, other state and local Colorado state police, neighboring Denver P.D. anyone that would have the resources that they may need, whether it's forensic capability, explosive examination capability, weaponry, as well as the extensive background investigation that's going to occur nationally and possibly internationally.

So there's more than enough work for as many agencies as can be brought to bear. Now, remember, in this case, the fact that terrorism has not been established and a link hasn't been established, the lead in this investigation is Aurora Police Department. So the chief of Aurora P.D. is the person in charge of this investigation. All other agencies would be providing assistance unless a terrorism nexus is established, and then that would affect how they work the case.

WHITFIELD: Is there anything that you kind of extrapolate from the fact that we do know according to eyewitnesses that a mask was used, there was a bulletproof vest, we're talking about possibly some sort of automatic weapon, a rifle, two handguns? All of these quite frankly are quite accessible, aren't they? I mean especially as it pertains to the bulletproof vest or the mask. These are things that you can buy at a military surplus store. Anybody can do that.

FUENTES: Unfortunately, the weapons, the equipment, military type gear, all of that is very readily accessible. So there's no trouble for someone to get their hands on the equipment that he apparently had at the time of the shooting.

WHITFIELD: All right. Tom Fuentes, thanks so much for your insight. Appreciate that.

FUENTES: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: All right, meantime, this investigation as it continues, we're also getting lots of reaction, including that of the president of the United States. He will be addressing this tragedy for the first time in the 11:00 a.m. Eastern hour while he's on a campaign stop in Florida. But for now, let's bring in White House correspondent Brianna Keilar.

Already there has been a statement coming from the White House. What's being said?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House, Fred, saying that this actually coming from President Obama. He said, "Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado." And he goes on to say that as local and state agencies are responding that he will make sure that his administration will do everything that it can do.

He says, "As we do, when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. These are rather -- it is a rather lengthy response that he has. And I will also tell you that the secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, saying that she's directed the Department of Homeland Security to provide any support necessary in the ongoing investigation.

And we did learn, Fred, from the White House that President Obama -- we don't know if he was woken up, but it stands to reason that he was. He was alerted at 5:26 a.m. this morning by his top Homeland Security and counterterrorism advises that this had happened in Colorado, and he will be addressing this. He has two campaign events today. He'll be talking about this we've learned from White House officials at the first one, which is in Fort Myers, Florida, and we're expecting that around 11:20 a.m. and of course we'll bring that live.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brianna Keilar. Thanks so much from the White House. Keep us posted on that.

Again, the president's first remarks may be coming from Fort Myers, Florida, in the 11:00 a.m. hour. And of course we'll be bringing that to you.

So a bit more now about the suspect involved in the shooting in the early hours there in Aurora, Colorado. What we know, a 24-year-old white male, we believe, according to officials, and this is clearly a well-planned attack.

What would drive a young man to do something like this? And what could the motive possibly be? We'll be talking about that with a criminal profiler in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We're following breaking news from Aurora, Colorado. There has been a mass shooting inside a movie theater.

Here is the latest that we know. Gunshots erupted in that theater during an early-morning screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," the new Batman movie. At least 12 people are dead, 38 more are wounded.

At first, many people in the 16-screen theater thought that the gunfire was coming from a movie ongoing. Police have a suspect now in custody, a young man. He was heavily armed and was arrested in the theater's rear parking lot near his vehicle.

So there were hundreds of people inside the movie theater complex when the shooting started early this morning. And many inside saw the gunman, including one woman who told affiliate KCNC the gunman pointed a weapon at her.

(BEEGIN VIDEO CLIP, KCNC)

JENNIFER, WITNESS TO SHOOTING: He came in, and he started lighting a gas can. And he threw it into the crowd. At that point, he shot his first fire into the ceiling and scare everybody. And they started scattering, and mass chaos happened. At that point, he went from here to here and he just pointed the gun at me.

I was terrified. I dove into the aisle. At that point, he started shooting people behind me. I had bullets that were on my forehead, and I just told myself, I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here.

(END VIDEO CLI)

WHITFIELD: Again, here's what we know about the suspect. Police say he is 24. He did not put up a fight apparently when he was taken into custody. They say that he had four guns, an assault rifle, a shotgun, and two handguns. One was found in the theater.

Witnesses tell investigators that the shooter just appeared at the front of the theater possibly from an emergency exit or from behind the screen or a curtain. And also that he was wearing a bulletproof vest, possibly a gas mask or a riot helmet of some sort, and also that the suspect released some sort of gas as you heard from that eyewitness, or smoke, and then began the shooting.

Clearly, eyewitness accounts suggest this was a very well- planned attack.

Criminal profiler Pat Brown is joining us from Washington.

So, Pat, of what we're hearing about the makeup of this suspect and what this suspect was equipped with, what does this tell you about the motive, what does this tell you typically about the profile of this individual?

PAT BROWN, CRIMINAL PROFILER: Well, typically, we have what is a mass murdering psychopath. This is his day in the sun.

And when I woke up this morning and got the call from CNN, I went online, and I found out it was already on Wikipedia. So this man has already achieved his goal, which is becoming one of the most famous people in the world, or infamous.

His name will go down in history. He'll probably beat out the Columbine guys for numbers, and he's going to be very proud of himself. This is his moment in the sun.

WHITFIELD: Of course, we are still learning about the suspect. Investigators are still combing the scene of his apartment, looking closer at his vehicle. We'll examine as we heard from our former FBI Tom Fuentes, they'll be examining his computer records. Or anything that will tell them a little bit more about him, his background, whether there's any military training, et cetera.

But from based on what we know, if indeed initial reports indicating that this was kind of a lone wolf, that there may not be any affiliation with a national or international group, what does this tell you about this person, the motivation -- whether he may be kind of an outcast, trying to make a statement?

BROWN: Well, definitely not a terrorist, in my opinion. What we've got is the guy who does want to get back at society, show everybody that, you know, he is important, and you all kind of ignored me.

We usually see this in late teens, early 20s, and in people who are 40 years old -- the middle aged mass murderer who realizes he's not going anyplace in life anymore and nobody respects him enough. He doesn't have anything to lose, essentially. This is going to be the best thing he's ever going to do in his life, so he probably has prepared for a long time, just obsessing over it, gathering up weapons. Probably playing one video game after another, shooting, shooting, and building up his courage and the excitement of when it's going to be real for him. And it's made his day.

WHITFIELD: S in your view, then, that apartment, as they continue to search, really just might be a treasure trove of information. If this kind of planning clearly had to be quite intense to execute something of this scale in a very public place during a time when people are relaxed, having a good time, just after midnight at a movie theater for a big screening.

BROWN: He totally chose this. This was his perfect fish bowl. And it was going to make the big news because it was the opening night of Batman. So -- I mean, that was perfectly planned.

If he had been a student, he might have picked a school. That's why the teens often hit the schools because that's a venue they are comfortable with. I bet you this guy spends time in movie theaters, realizing this is a good place to make this thing happen.

So, yes, that apartment, they are going to find a lot of stuff there. This doesn't develop overnight. He didn't wake up one day and say, gee, I think I should shoot up some people. This has been something he has really been into. And we'll probably find on Facebook or somebody who knows him, yes, he was did have a lot of interest in that. He's always playing the video games.

And I'm not saying video games make you a killer. But if you're a psychopath, video games help you get in the mode to do the killing.

So it is a problem in our society with teenaged psychopaths, that they do get inspired by a lot of this and want to make it real. So, it is a danger, but it doesn't make you psycho.

But he probably has been involved in this. His obsession with weaponry probably has been there for a long time. And it doesn't mean all gun owners are crazy psychopaths it. It just means this kind of guy would have that interest. And people probably knew it but never expected it would come to this, as they always say.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right. Criminal profiler Pat Brown from Washington, thank you so much.

As we continue to look at live pictures now of the apartment complex where this suspect was believed to have lived. Of course, investigators are still combing the scene, looking into the apartment. They thought at first it might be booby trapped because the suspect indicated that there might still be weapons inside.

We understand officials are saying at this juncture it doesn't appear to be booby trapped but they continue to look and possibly look through any of these records and then try to figure out how to contact people who knew this suspect to get a better idea of the planning and the intent behind the shooting taking place.

This only a couple of miles from the movie complex where the shooting took place just after midnight Colorado time.

So meantime, it was a big screening for the big new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." and now Warner Brothers, the studio behind this movie, is reacting to this horrific violence in Colorado. Warner Brothers saying that the Paris premiere of the new Batman movie has been cancelled.

Kareen Wynter now in Los Angeles with more on that now.

So, Kareen, clearly, the theater, the movie makers not taking very long to react to this horrific opening here in Colorado.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. It was supposed to be a summer escape with a highly anticipated action movie. But it's obviously turned into a tragedy, a nightmare really. Batman fans, you know, across the country have been anxiously awaiting the opening of "The Dark Knight Rises." They were lining up to be really among the first to see this movie.

And to give you a sense, Fred, of how many fans were a to see the latest Batman movies, advanced ticket sales totaled more than $25 million. Analysts were predicting the movie would have the biggest opening ever for a 2D movie.

Obviously, now the focus is not on the hype surrounding this expected summer blockbuster but on this tragedy.

In Colorado, CNN Entertainment received the following statement from Warner Brothers in regards to the shooting that occurred last night, "Warner Brothers and film makers, we are deeply saddened, deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the loved ones and families at this tragic time."

Additionally, CNN confirms that the studio has cancelled, as you mentioned at the top, the Paris premiere and press interviews for "The Dark Knight Rises" that was scheduled for tonight.

As for the violence in the film, you know, I have not screened it. But based on clips I've seen, "The Dark Knight Rises" is an action movie. There are explosions in it at times that could have lent confusion in the theater.

We obviously have no idea, Fred, what was going through the mind of the person or people responsible for this horrible incident so we can't say there is a direct connection to the themes in the movie, and what has occurred.

But again, you have the statement from the studio behind "The Dark Knight." Additionally, we reached out to the stars of the film, Christian Bale who plays Batman, Ann Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, as well as the film's director, Christopher Nolan.

And one thing you have to think about here, Fred, is the rippling effect this could cause. This was supposed to be an entertaining experience. For so many people, one of most highly anticipated movies of the summer. People lined up last night. They were looking to really, really take this flick for the first time. And then this is what happened.

You know, just to show the precautionary measures that are taking place all across the country, our Susan Candiotti just sent out a statement to the networks saying, for example, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, they are stepping up safety procedures to prevent possible copycats and to raise comfort levels among movie patrons in the wake of what happened in Colorado -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kareen, and this was supposed to be a real family going movie, rated PG-13.

So that Paris premiere, might that have involved a number of the stars you just read off. It was a red carpet event, and Warner Brothers just feeling it's not appropriate to have that big premiere rollout in Paris given what took place in Colorado?

WYNTER: Absolutely. We call it junkets, you know, where the press reporters line up, and we get a chance to go one-on-one with the stars. And of course, this would be the big question that the media would be asking in light of this tragedy. It's difficult a negative effect on the film.

And so they probably don't want the stars reacting to this. And bottom line, it's just not appropriate in light of the tragedy.

WHITFIELD: Kareen Wynter, thanks so much. And, of course, Warner Brothers, just like CNN, a Time Warner Company.

We've got continuing coverage of this tragic shooting takes place in Aurora, Colorado.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK, WAS IN ADJACENT THEATER DURING SHOOTING: We were watching a movie. As one of the action scenes like started up, gunshots were firing. And we heard like explosions or something to our left or right. And we were like, oh, someone brought firecrackers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WHITFIELD: Welcome back.

Roughly seven hours after a massacre unfolds in a Colorado movie theater, of course investigators continue to comb through all the evidence trying to understand and get a better understanding of the suspect that is now in custody. One person, a 24-year-old, in custody. Meantime, eyewitnesses are still telling their stories about what took place among them.

William Washington, who is on the phone with us now.

William, you were in that theater nine there in that Century Plaza movie theater. Tell me what happened. How it all unfolded.

WILLIAM WASHINGTON, WAS IN THE MOVIE THEATER NEXT DOOR TO SHOOTING (via telephone): Actually, I was in theater eight.

WHITFIELD: OK. You were in the nearby one then. Then what did you hear?

WASHINGTON: So we got the residual blast. Essentially, what we got was -- so we are sitting watching the movie. It's probably about 15 minutes into the actual movie. So about 30 minutes had gone by from -- it was about 12:30. And suddenly there's a scene where Ann Hathaway's character is in a shootout. And so there's gunfire going across the speakers.

And next thing we know, a really, really loud gunshot goes off. And most of us are thinking that it's just a good sound effect. I know I was definitely thinking that. And, you know, it was so loud that it actually left ringing in my ears. You know the way a gunshot actually would when you're nearby.

And then we start to hear it again and again. And then we start to see smoke come up from the right side of the theater, because the theater was directly to the right of us, theater nine. So we're seeing smoke coming up from the bottom right corner of the theater. And people are clutching and, you know, starting to run towards the exits.

And we noticed somebody bleeding, and running toward an exit. And at that point, you know, we knew something was wrong. And so we all head toward an exit. And somebody runs into our theater and yells, "Don't go into the lobby. He's got a gun."

And so at that point, panic. And everybody is panicking.

And people are -- there were some people actually sitting down still trying to watch a movie who thought this was just part of some kind of act, I guess, I don't know, but people were thinking it was an act.

So we start heading toward the back of the theater, where there's an exit that takes us to a balcony. And so we all were on a balcony for about two to three minutes. And it was just an awful scene out there on that balcony. There were people with bloody faces. Because both theater eight and theater nine both emptied out into that same balcony.

So there were people with bloody faces. And I saw one guy who had his leg looked like it was torn. I mean, like ripped completely off. Or his foot looked like it, anyway, looked like he had been shot in the leg.

And we waited up there for about two or three minutes. Everybody was just kind of watching over the balcony to see what was happening. And then the police showed up and rushed into the theater or rushed into the lobby, I should say, with shotguns. And at that point, we were all escorted of the balcony through a set of stairs that took us to the front exit.

And at that point, you could see cops standing outside of the theater with guns pointed at each and every exit, and that was a clear indicator that whatever was going on in there was still inside, and they need us out.

WHITFIELD: About how long do you think the shooting was taking place before you and other moviegoers started running and looking for a place to leave and before you heard that one witness who said, don't go in the lobby because the gunman is still out there?

WASHINGTON: I feel like, you know, it felt like a lot longer than it probably was. It definitely felt like it could have been two or three minutes. But to be honest, it was probably only about 40 seconds.

WHITFIELD: Were people trying to help one another? From what you can tell, and now we are looking at some cell phone video. We're seeing people who are streamed out.

At this point, police are already there. You can see a police officer's hand on the shoulder what appears to be one victim. But did it appear before police arrived that people were trying to help one another, help those who are injured? Was there any kind of semblance of that?

WASHINGTON: Somewhat. To be honest, not a lot of people had any clue what was going on.

I know that there were rumors flying around all outside, no matter who you talked to. Somebody had a different story. Somebody thought it was just a fire cracker that somebody set off. Others thought -- I heard a rumor of a CO2 bomb going off.

And there were just a lot of rumors and nobody really knew what was going on. So, there was a lot of conversation and people discussing what they thought they had seen, what they thought had happened. It wasn't until information came out that somebody had died, and then multiple people had died, that suddenly things really got serious outside. But it was just a whole lot of confusion and curiosity.

All right. William Washington, eyewitness to what took place there in Aurora, Colorado. Thanks so much for your insight there in this tragic shooting taking place just after midnight in Aurora, just a few miles outside of Denver, Colorado.

It was supposed to be a fun night at the movies. After the midnight showing for a big movie that so many were anticipating across the country, the new Batman movie, and then it turns to tragedy here. More images of the place that then responded to the scene, which became a scene of a massacre.

Much more after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WHITFIELD: All right. CNN now able to confirm the identity of the suspect in custody in that massacre at a movie theater in Colorado.

We understand the name to be James Holmes, born December 13th, 1987. Federal law enforcement officials along with local authorities are now trying to extrapolate more, learn more about the suspect, his motivation, and all that took place just after midnight in Aurora, Colorado.

All right. Meantime, that massacre in Colorado has precipitated security concerns in New York as well.

Susan Candiotti is there.

Susan, tell us more.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, just got an announcement from the police commissioner here in New York City that he is taking extra precautions at all of the movie theaters in the five boroughs of New York City that are going to be showing and are showing of this new Batman movie.

And so, what they are going to be taking precaution-wise, he said, is to add additional security outside the theaters, surrounding the theaters, to make sure that there are no possible copycats.

This is a statement from Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. He says as a precaution against copycats and to raise the comfort level among movie patrons in the wake of the horrendous shooting in Colorado, Kelly says that the police department is providing coverage at theaters in all five boroughs, where "The Dark Knight Rises" is going to be playing starting today. So this is an extra measure to make sure that the people are comfortable if they choose to go to see this movie, which of course is a summer blockbuster and being billed that way throughout.

Fredricka, we also have some additional information from New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who appeared on a radio show this morning in New York City, already weighing in on this terrible shooting as well. He of course as we al know is a major proponent of gun control.

And that is what he first began talking about. In his words, he said, there are, quote, "so many murders with guns every day, it just has to stop." And instead of the two people, he said, running for president, President Obama running for re-election and Governor Romney, he said, talking in broad things about what they want to make the world a better place, tell us how. He said this is a real problem no matter where you stand on the Second Amendment, no matter where you stand on guns.

So we have Mayor Bloomberg weighing in as well as Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

WHITFIELD: Susan, thank you so much in New York.

We want to take you back to Colorado now. Aurora, Colorado, the place of the shooting. Right now we want to take to you one of the medical facilities, Aurora Medical Center, for a press conference right now underway.

REPORTER: You got a breakdown of male/female --

FRANK LANSVILLE: I think there's almost an equitable mix of the type of patients, male/female that we have received. Again, they are on the younger side, certainly.

REPORTER: Any approximate age range, 16 to 31? Is that about right?

LANSVILLE: That's right. Any other questions?

REPORTER: Spell your first and last name, please.

LANSVILLE: Frank Lansville, L-A-N-S-V-I-L-L-E.

We had a total of 15 patients received from this incident. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let me -- I'm sorry. Let me make a correction to the phone number I gave out earlier for patients and family.

WHITFIELD: Again, a press conference that is just now winding up there at the Aurora Medical Center. We understand that there are a number of hospitals and medical centers that are being involved here in trying to treat those who have been injured.

Some 38 people injured, 12 dead. Among the victims, we want that the victims range in age from 3 months all the way up to 31 perhaps even past that age. But those are the numbers we have, from 3 to 31.

We'll have much more on our continuing coverage of the massacre at a movie theater in Colorado after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. 12 killed, 38 injured in a massacre at a Colorado movie theater. Let's find out more about the investigation, the direction it's going. Susan Candiotti in New York with more information from the FBI.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, this is coming from a federal law enforcement official. Who is involved in the investigation.

We've heard some of this, but a little more detail now that the suspect in this case, Mr. Holmes -- who is now being identified by CNN as the suspected shooter -- went to the back door of the movie theater and propped open -- went to the back of the theater, propped open an exit door and then geared up with his weapons, threw the canister, which was believed to be at this point a smoke bomb or tear gas, and then began shooting. Taking out so many people and creating so much carnage in the area before eventually surrendering.

So this is some of the information we're also getting from witnesses, eyewitnesses who were in the theater, describing some of it. Law enforcement officials now putting out this information as well, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much for that update. Susan Candiotti, I appreciate it.

We're going to have much more on our continuing coverage of this massacre at a movie theater.

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WHITFIELD: We're following "Breaking News" this morning out of Aurora, Colorado, where 12 people killed in a shooting at the premiere of a Batman movie -- more on that in a moment.

But first, a look at some other news we're following.

In Iowa, an FBI dive team will search Myers Lake today for two cousins; 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins and 10-year-old Lyric Cook have been missing for a week now. Police have searched the home of one of their mothers and confiscated her computer. And the trial for the man who calls himself America's toughest sheriff resumes in Arizona today. Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's office are accused of unfairly profiling Latinos during raids looking for illegal immigrants. The ACLU is representing about 200 Latinos in that class-action suit.

And today is the first day of Ramadan and in Syria protesters chanted saying they will win Damascus by the end of the holiday. This comes the day after China and Russia voted against a U.N. resolution with Syria. This morning another resolution sponsored by the U.K. and Pakistan could be considered.

And look at the damage caused by a powerful lightning storm that ripped through this Louisville, Kentucky area yesterday. A wind gust up to 64 miles an hour. Thousands of people without power and at least two people were killed when their home caught fire after a lightning strike. More severe storms are expected in parts of the Southeast today. We'll have much more.

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WHITFIELD: We're following "Breaking News" out of Aurora, Colorado, 12 people have been killed and another 38 wounded at the screening of "The Dark Night Rises".

Here is the latest that we know. Police have a suspect in custody, he has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes. Witnesses say the gas mask wearing young man burst into a theater, threw a smoke bomb and then opened fire. Holmes was taken in by officers in the rear parking lot of the theater. He did not resist arrest. And authorities say the suspect had four weapons. A subsequent search of his apartment for explosives turned up nothing there.

All right. Hundreds of eyewitnesses were inside this Century 16 movie theater when the shooting began. Affiliate KUSA spoke to one man about what he says happened in Theater 9.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX, INSIDE MOVIE COMPLEX DURING SHOOTING: When she turned around, all she saw was the guy slowly making his way up the stairs and just firing at people, just picking random people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now you said to me that you observed several people who had been wounded in some form or fashion.

ALEX: Yes I saw at least four, maybe five people that were limping, wounded, slightly bloody. The most that I saw was a girl who was pretty much covered in blood and she didn't have any wounds on her. So I mean, that kind of -- it made me think the worst.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A night few people will be able to forget there in Aurora, Colorado. We'll have much more of our continuing coverage of that massacre taking place in a movie theater.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Chaos at a Colorado movie theater overnight, a gunman enters a packed showing of the new Batman movie. He used a tear gas and then opens fire killing 12 people and wounding 38.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX: As soon as we heard the first shots, my sister immediately grabbed my arm and wanted to leave as quick as possible. Yes, it was terrifying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)