12 killed and 59 wounded at ‘Batman’ Premiere In Colorado

Investigators look over evidence on ground outside the back door of the Century 16 movie theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo. on Friday, July 20, 2012. A gunman in a gas mask barged into a crowded Denver-area theater during a midnight showing of the Batman movie on Friday, hurled a gas canister and then opened fire in one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Early on Friday July 20, 2012, there was another mass shooting in the United States.

This time 12 people were killed and 59 people were injured including children in a mass shooting at the ‘Batman – The Dark Knight Rises’ premiere at a mall in Aurora, Colorado.

The suspect’s name is James Eagan Holmes who is 24 years old.

He was armed with an assault rifle, a shotgun and a pistol.

Dressed in black with a gas mask, ballistic helmet, vest, throat guard and crotch guard, he told the police that he was Batman’s enemy, the Joker.

REUTERS reported that police said Holmes also booby-trapped his Aurora apartment with what appeared to be sophisticated explosives, creating a potential hazard for law-enforcement and bomb squad officers who swarmed to the scene and authorities evacuated five nearby buildings and created a perimeter of several blocks as they planned to detonate the suspected explosives with a robot.

Police use a video camera to look inside an apartment where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

I am very sad and sorry for the victims, their families and friends.

People especially children should not watch or read violent stories because they might be influenced to commit violent actions.

Even when the story shows the hero fighting against violent enemies like Batman and other superhero, some people are influenced by the nemesis who uses violence to hurt others.

And the problem will be worse in countries where owning guns are legal because people can use the guns to hurt others and also for mass shootings.

It is a disaster when people hurt others just because they feel like doing it.

Investigators look over evidence on ground outside the back door of the Century 16 movie theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo. on Friday, July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Author: Ahmad Ali Karim

Blogger. Columnist at Utusan Malaysia. RCE Youth Coordinator at RCE Greater Gombak. Secretary at Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Pendidikan Malaysia (ME'DIDIK).

11 thoughts on “12 killed and 59 wounded at ‘Batman’ Premiere In Colorado”

    1. Dear Why James,
      I think that the United States and all the countries in the world should not let people own guns freely to control mass shooting. People should learn what is right and what is wrong and learn to be more disciplined, respect other people, do not be selfish, do not watch violent movies, do not blame others when they are not happy and get help when they feel like hurting others.

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  1. That is true we all people especially the children should not watching violence movies because there are many bad elements such as murder, drugs, assault, killing and terrorism. Many cases of imitating the actions from the film happen among the children and adolescent due too not being able to distinguish between real and fantasy.

    Unfortunately this matter was not taken seriously by parents and considers it is not a factor of human behavior. There are studies have shown that a series of TV or movies entertained with presented acts of violence are actually affected to the audience. Violence in the film influenced the children in case of increased aggressively and antisocial conducts.

    Therefore the government should make a guide or rule of the characteristics of the films can be shown to the public. The films are characterized by excessive violence must be avoid and would be good if they are banned from screened. Although the action to ban the film might be not the best solution but at least the film that has the potential to harm people’s moral should be restricted.

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    1. Dear zulfahasan,
      It is true kids could easily be influenced by violent stories. And government should control the TV stations and educate people about how watching and reading stories can influence their behaviours. But the question is, why must some people write violent and bad value stories stories ❓ My parents do not allow us to watch or read stories unless the ones with good values so I do not like stories without good values such as Sponge Bob, Doraemon, Upin Dan Ipin, Batman, Ultraman, Superman and lot of other stories that are violent and promote bad values. I watch Sesame Street, Barney, Dora, Diego, Wonder Pets, Small Potatoes, 3rd and Bird and others that promotes good values. And I love TV stories created by Josh Selig like Wonder Pets, Small Potatoes, 3rd and Bird and I’m proud because I received comments from Josh Selig 🙂 I wrote about these in my blog posts.

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