As the day progresses, more information is surfacing about the shooting that happened at a midnight premiere screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater. But many questions remain unanswered.
Friends and family of victims have been given a hotline to call for information those who are still missing and those who have been placed on the victims list. But some people are having trouble getting through, and others are standing in a designated area outside of the movie theater still waiting to find out the fate of their loved ones, reports the Denver Post.
The U.S. Department of Defense says two airmen and one sailor were wounded in the movie theater shooting in Colorado and one sailor is unaccounted for, according to the Associated Press.
The most recent tally of 71 victims, 12 people killed and 59 injured, makes this the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. The shooter entered via an emergency exit, threw down some sort of device that emitted smoke, and began shooting at theater goers as he roamed the aisles and even left the building to shoot at those trying to escape.
It's been reported that when the suspect, 24-year-old graduate student James Holmes, was apprehended in possession of multiple firearms wearing a ballistic vest and leg guards and a riot helmet, that he referred to himself as the Batman villain the Joker, but the Aurora police chief has not confirmed this.
Aurora PD Police Chief Dan Oates did say today that in response to the suspect’s statement that his apartment was booby trapped, police and bomb squads have searched it with robots and found a large number of explosive devices and trip wires and have not yet decided how to proceed without setting off explosions.
New York City has increased security outside of all theaters showing "The Dark Knight Rises" and AMC Theaters is reviewing its security procedures after the shooting, the Associated Press reports.
The National Association of Theatre Owners said in a statement, "Guest safety is, and will continue to be a priority for theater owners. NATO members are working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures."
Many things are still unknown, including the motivation for the shooting, the ultimate number of victims, and what the impact will be on the public.
By Melanie Basich
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