Aurora police and FBI teams are working to disarm explosive devices in the apartment of theater shooting suspect James Holmes. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the apartment appears to be “booby trapped.”
"It's pretty sophisticated the way it's booby trapped. We could be here for hours, we could be here for days,” Oates told NBC affiliate 9News Friday morning.
The entire apartment building has been evacuated while authorities work on the explosive devices. A sweep of the theater Holmes, 24, attacked did not uncover any explosives.
Holmes was arrested in a back parking lot of Century Aurora 16 Theater shortly before 1 a.m. Friday after opening fire on moviegoers in a showing of the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. Witnesses say Holmes entered the theater through an emergency exit around 12:30 a.m. He threw a smoke bomb before shooting into the audience. Ten people died at the scene and two others died at a local hospital. At least 59 people were wounded. Several of the victims were children, the youngest reportedly 3-months-old.
Police say Holmes was dressed in tactical gear and used an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40-caliber handgun in the attack. A second .40-caliber handgun was also recovered at the scene. Holmes told police about the explosives in his apartment after his arrest.
Warner Bros., the studio behind the Batman film, offered its condolences to the victims and their families. “Warner Bros. and the filmmakers are deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time,” the studio said.
The Paris premiere of the film has been canceled as well as press interviews with the cast, which includes Anne Hathaway and Christian Bale. In New York, authorities plan to up security at theaters showing The Dark Knight Rises.
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