"The Dark Knight Rises" Massacre: What Is The Real Motive Behind The Shooting That Caused 12 People Dead And 59 Others Wounded

Although The Dark Knight Rises scored a healthy $30.6 million at midnight screenings Friday, the second highest opening on record, just behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with $43.5 million according to studio estimates. But it seem like it will drop in the next couple of days because of the cold blooded shooting in the midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises movie premiere in Aurora, Colorado, USA. One thing is for sure now, and that is Warner Bros. decision of immediately cancelling the Paris premiere of the film - as well as a morning press conference featuring the A-listers, even though Director Christopher Nolan and some of the film's actors were in France, preparing for the event.

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado

You have probably read our previous post about The Dark Knight Rises All You Need To Know Trailer, 13-Minutes Preview, And Photos, but this you should really know it that at least 12 people are killed when a gunman enters an Aurora, Colo. movie theater, releases a canister of gas and then opens fire during opening night of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." And an aspiring sportscaster who cheated death at a Toronto shopping mall shooting last month is one of the 12 dead in the Colorado movie massacre.

Jessica Ghawi was watching “The Dark Knight Rises” with a long-time friend when a gunman opened fire minutes into the midnight premiere.
She was shot twice, once in the head, her family said.

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado - Jessica 

The young woman was attending the movie with a pal she had convinced to accompany her, Twitter posts show.
“Never thought I’d have to coerce a guy into seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises with me,” Ghawi wrote in the hours leading up to her death.
“Of course we’re seeing Dark Knight. Redheaded Texan spitfire, people should never argue with me. Maybe I should get in on those NHL talks...”
Her final post to a hockey writer pal reads: “MOVIE DOESN’T START FOR 20 MINUTES.”

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado 

As shock continues to pour in after the shootings at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, the film's composer, Hans Zimmer, expressed his grief and sorrow.


"We're all devastated by what's happened," the Oscar winner said Friday during an interview with Rolling Stone. "When we set up this interview, we didn't know that things would change. I was going to send a note to Chris [Nolan] ... but I didn't have the words. Suddenly, words become meaningless because it's so beyond anything. Devastated, I suppose, is the word. It's just sad. Here we are, we were trying to celebrate this movie and celebrating that we'd finished it and then this happened. I just feel so incredibly sad for these people."


Zimmer's heartfelt sentiments reflect the same sadness and devastation expressed by director Christopher Nolan.


"Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of 'The Dark Knight Rises,' I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community," Nolan wrote in a statement. "I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. 


I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."


Twelve people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of the shooting, with nearly 50 others wounded and receiving treatment at nearby Colorado hospitals.


So what is the real motive behind the heartless massacre in this midnight screening of probably one of the most influencing movie, "The Dark Knight Rises"? 


The mass shooting in Aurora in suburban Denver killed 12 people and injured 71 in one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history.


Suspected gunman James Holmes, a 24-year-old medical student, was arrested shortly after the shooting and remains in police custody.

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado 

Holmes allegedly burst into the theatre and threw a smoke gas canister. When the smoke began to spread, some moviegoers thought it was a stunt that was part of the movie. Then they saw a silhouette of a person at the front of the theatre, pointing a gun at the crowd.


New York police commissioner Raymond Kelly said Friday that the gunman clearly looked “like a deranged individual.”


“He has his hair painted red. He said he was the Joker, obviously the enemy of Batman.”

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado 

Holmes was reportedly wearing all-black ballistics gear, including a helmet, bulletproof vest, leggings, throat protector, groin protector, tactical gloves and gas mask. Police believe he set off two smoke or tear-gas devices to distract the crowd before opening fire. His car was said to be stockpiled with additional ammunition.

The Dark Knight Rises Massacre Real Motive Behind The Shooting in Aurora Colorado 

Holmes was an Aurora resident who lived about four miles from the theater. Chief Oates confirms that when police investigated his home, they discovered that the apartment had been "booby-trapped with wires," prompting authorities to immediately evacuate residents from five nearby buildings. Bomb technicians were reportedly dispatched to disarm explosive materials that were found on the scene.


Police confirm that Holmes had no criminal history, and had only been cited for speeding in October 2011


What do you think of his motive? Did Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight franchise really affect people that much ? Has it become far more than just a film? It's such a sad thing that one of the greatest celebration of a film masterpiece could become the reason of this unacceptable tragedy.


All our hearts goes to all the victims of the shooting at the midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises movie premiere in Aurora, Colorado, USA.