At least 12 people were killed and about 50 were injured when a masked gunman open fired at a sold out Dark Knight Rises premier in Aurora, Colorado this morning.
NBC station KUSA-Denver reports that a black-clad 6-foot-tall man wearing a riot helmet, goggles, gas mask, and bullet-proof vest kicked down an emergency exit door threw at least one smoke bomb/tear gas device, and then begin shooting at random.
Aurora police chief Dan Oates says they have a 24-year-old suspect in is custody and that there is no evidence of additional shooters. He was taken into custody without a fight in a car behind the theater. The suspect’s apartment building in north Aurora was evacuated after the suspect made a statement to police about possible explosives at his home, Oates said. CBS News has confirmed that explosives were found at suspects apartment.
CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that President Obama, at a hotel in Florida, was informed of the shootings in phone call from Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan at about 5:30 AM. Oates has said there is no suggestion of links to international terrorism.
A three month old baby was injured at the scene but is now doing fine at University Hospital.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Aurora.
Campaign 2012
Obama: Obama campaigned in Florida Thursday, accusing Romney of trying to destroy Medicare. “It’s wrong to ask seniors to pay more for Medicare just so millionaires and billionaires can pay less in taxes,” Obama said.
Romney: Romney told a crowd in Massachusetts today that Obama’s ‘you didn’t build that’ comment was not a gaffe, but is his ideology. “The president does, in fact, believe that people who build enterprises like this really aren’t responsible for it,” Romney said. And Ann Romney told ABC News they would not be releasing any more tax returns since we’ve “given all you people need to know.”
Around the Bigs
The USA Today, Up to 20 injured in Colorado movie theater shooting: As many as 20 people were injured when shooting erupted around midnight Thursday at a suburban Denver movie theater, police said.
The Wall Street Journal, White House Backs Bankruptcy Option for Some Student Debt: The Obama administration urged Congress to make it easier for people to discharge non-government student debt by filing for bankruptcy protection.
The Washington Post, Obama support for GE, Boeing, JPMorgan doesn’t always go both ways: Top executives of GE, Boeing, and JP Morgan, have repeatedly criticized Obama for his rhetoric and his policies or have declined to support some of his most significant proposals. And their employees, in a contrast to 2008, have scaled back financial support for Obama’s campaign.
The New York Times, Hezbollah Is Blamed for Attack on Israeli Tourists in Bulgaria: American officials on Thursday identified the suicide bomber responsible for a deadly attack on Israeli vacationers here as a member of a Hezbollah cell that was operating in Bulgaria and looking for such targets, corroborating Israel’s assertions and making the bombing a new source of tension with Iran. American officials said the bomber had a fake Michigan driver’s license, but there are no indications that he had any connection to the United States.
The Los Angeles Times, Lawmakers give raises to aides before cutting other workers’ pay: Lawmakers gave raises worth $4.6 million annually to more than 1,000 of their aides before cutting the pay of most other state workers, newly released records show.
Righty Playbook
Pat Sajak calls Obama’s “you didn’t build that” line Obama’s defining moment.
The Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto explains why Obama is so resentful of business.
RedState‘s Erick Erickson warns that Congressional Republicans led by Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming are negotiating behind closed doors with liberals to raise taxes.
Lefty Playbook
Salon‘s Alex Pareene claims Aaron Sorkin is why people hate liberals.
Think Progress identifies 23 brands “helping bankroll right-wing attack ads.”
Talking Points Memo reports that the White House is pushing back against Republican attacks on welfare waivers by noting that Republican governors requested them.
