[EDITOR’s NOTE: See the bottom of this post for the latest updates.

UPDATE: Among those shot are one Navy officer and two Reservists.

UPDATE: People rose early to the news here, and have lined up at the Bonfils blood bank to donate blood. The call has been made for O negative and A negative and for platletts. They’ve used for the 50 victims nearly 300 pints of blood, which is about 1/3 of the blood bank’s weekly allotment to h and h, health and hospitals.

UPDATE: The apprehended alleged shooter James Holmes, 24 years old, appears to be from San Diego, and was driving a car with Tennessee plates, had no military service, was alleged to have been carrying an assault rifle and two handguns. The first murder victim has been announced, a young woman sportscaster who was a beautiful redhead and a loved daughter. Her mother verified her death just an hour ago. Inside the theatre are still the bodies of ten of the dead. Similar was true of Columbine massacre, the bodies of the children and the teacher lay in the school overnight. It may be worth noting later that there too, it was at first thought all the bodies of the dead had been boobytrapped by the killers.

UPDATE: The 3 month old child has pulled through. Six different hospitals in Denver and Aurora are packed with victims of ‘chemical exposure’ and devastating gunshot wounds, one a six year old child. The ages of persons injured are from 3 months to 31 years old it is reported.

UPDATE: Reports now are reporting not knowing whether it is 12 or 14 who have been murdered. It appears the number of deaths is 12.

A clearly insane person with a gun (again) it is said stood up at the front of the theatre at a midnight showing of the new film “The Dark Knight Rises” and began firing into the peaceful crowd of theatre-goers.

Panic ensued, 911 was flooded with pleas for help, people in the theatre next door at first thought all the sudden screaming was in the film itself, but then realized that everyone’s life was in danger.

Right now, all news media are asking/begging for all who were in theatre and who are alive to please call home and let their people know they are still alive. People are screaming and crying from seeing children shot.

Parents are rushing to Gateway highschool in Aurora Colorado which is the rendezvous point of first response officers helping to process matching up people with their families.

I have to say, this is what happened after the Columbine massacre, the rendezvous at a public school, and the scene there was just horrendous as parents found out their children were either alive, or dead. Ripped our hearts heart out, beyond heartbreak.

One suspect has been apprehended, a young man (unconfirmed 24 years old) who apparently threw a gas canister before opening fire into the crowd of about 300 souls. People tried to flee, many on hands and knees, others pouring blood from mouth and wounds, and others tried to drag the wounded with them.

The suspect was found hiding in the parking lot with a rifle and hand gun, gas mask, bragging he had more explosives and gas in his home.

There is talk right now that there may be a second suspect.

Some people, meaning young people and children were dressed up with Batman t-shirts and the little Batman ears on their heads, as people have done for Pirates of the Carribean with Johnny Depp, and of course for any of the midnight cult films. Innocent. Innocent. Innocent.

But the tell about how certain adult psyches are arranged is that when something like this happens, most recently to Gabriel Giffords, and we are still not and will never be recovered from the many women shot to death in Canada, nor Cho’s murder victims at Virginia Tech, nor Columbine, nor nor nor… the tell is when there is a massacre, instead of profound compassion and outpouring of grief by the’ over the top’ gun rights crowd, braying and mocking commences about “prying my cold dead hands off my rifle’.

¡Basta! As a member of NRA off and on for decades, and supporting rifle badges for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, I despair that honest gun owners will realize and act decisively as a bloc instead of being led by those of the old cadre –the largest org of gun owners could be the heroes of the universe– if they made legislatively sure firearms never came into insane people’s possession. It is not true that this cannot be done. It can. It’s not that it’s where there’s a will there’s a way. It’s: Where there is will and conscience, there’s a way to safeguard innocent lives from being ambushed and suddenly predated upon by ‘a man with a gun’ who has no regard for human life whatsoever.

The subject is huge, as is the shock of the ‘once again.’

There really are not words enough. Only that for ‘the slaughter of the innocents’ recorded in the Holy Bible, King Herod-ordered a stealthy and egregious night execution of all young male children in their cradles in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a rumored newborn who would become King of the Jews… Perhaps these ancient words are barely words enough:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and in huge mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children…
and she would not be comforted
for her children are no more.

If you’ve ever been at a disaster or massacre site or ER after a shooting, you know the mothers and fathers, those who love– often scream their grief until they lose their voices and are only screaming air.

May the families who have lost their children, be comforted in every way possible. May the surgeons helping the victims be guided by invisible and holy hands, may all the injured recover, and their families hold steady throughout… including the three month old child currently in ICU along with nine others in massively critical condition, and the others in serious conditions.

CODA
All hospitals in the city are taking calls from families searching for their loved ones.
Just released: blurry cell phone films of people fleeing the theatre.
President Obama has been notified and made a statement with his wife, Michelle, about this massacre.

For more blog reaction go here.

MSNBC reports that the Presidential campaign has been put partially on hold:

*** Politics takes a back seat: The tragic shooting in Colorado means that politics and the Obama-vs.-Romney presidential race will take a back seat today — and probably throughout the weekend. President Obama, who was notified of the shooting at 5:26 am, has released this statement: “Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time… As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family.” Mitt Romney also released a statement: “We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice.” For now, the Romney campaign says the candidate’s schedule will go on. As for the president, his first public event is scheduled for later this morning where he’s likely to speak about the tragedy for the first time on camera.

AFTERNOON UPDATES:
Photo of arrested accused shooter James Holmes:

A CROSS SECTION OF VIDEOS ON THE SHOOTINGS:
CNN offers this report that has a lot of the 911 calls:

An eyewitness (CNN):