Hot off the press from Sky News. Multiple agencies report 12 people have died, despite a few conflicting reports that 14 people were killed. Click headline for full story (so far)..

Update from Breaking News twitter feed:

Update from RT:

At least 12 moviegoers were reportedly killed and 20 injured at a cinema in the Colorado city of Aurora in the Denver suburbs. They were attending a midnight showing of the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises.

Local media reports that two gunmen were involved in the rampage. An explosive device was set off during the shooting, injuring several people.

Police are clearing people from the scene over fears that another explosive device might be on the premises.

Update from MSNBC:

Brenda Stuart, of 850 KOA radio, told Britain’s Sky News that “a lot of people thought the gunshots were part of the movie.”

“They heard what they thought were firecrackers,” she added, citing witnesses. “Then they saw the bullets flying.”

Eyewitness reports said the assailant may have been wearing a gas mask, Stuart said.

Tear gas went off in the Century 16 Movie Theaters at the Aurora Town Center following the gunfire, Stuart said. She added that bullets had passed from one theater into an adjoining one.

Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said “the scene is still very active.”

Update from ABC:

Suspect’s mother: “You have the right person… I need to call the police… I need to fly out to Colorado.”

The young man who is in custody after allegedly gunning down 12 people in a mass shooting spree overnight in Aurora, Colorado has been identified as local resident James Holmes, according to federal authorities.

Law enforcement officials and witnesses told ABC News Holmes, 24, wore what appeared to be a bullet-proof vest and riot-type mask as he opened fire in a movie theater with three weapons at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” In addition to the 12 deaths, at least 50 people were injured, according to police.

Local news reports showed aerial video of police cautiously searching Holmes’ apartment, some five miles from the Century Aurora 16 theater, as the suspect reportedly told police he had explosives inside.

Witnesses said that the man appeared at the front of the theater about 20 minutes into the movie with a rifle, handgun and gas mask. He then threw a canister that released some kind of gas, after which a hissing sound ensued, and he then opened fire on the crowd packed into the early-morning screening of the film.

“We were maybe 20 or 30 minutes into the movie and all you hear, first you smell smoke, everybody thought it was fireworks or something like that, and then you just see people dropping and the gunshots are constant,” witness Christ Jones told ABC’s Denver affiliate KMGH. “I heard at least 20 to 30 rounds within that minute or two.”

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[thanks sam]