PHNO-HL: PALACE JOINS NATION IN CONDEMNING COLORADO SHOOTING

PALACE JOINS NATION IN CONDEMNING COLORADO
SHOOTING
[PHOTO -HONORING COLORADO
VICTIMS The US flag flies half-mast at the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines, on
Sunday July 22, 2012. US President Barack Obama ordered that flags be flown at
half-staff on federal buildings in honor of those killed in the shooting rampage
at a Colorado movie theater. AP PHOTO/AARON
FAVILA]
MANILA, JULY
22, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Christine Avendaño -
condemning the shooting rampage in a movie theater in Denver, Colorado,
that killed 12 people and wounded 58 others, including a Filipino-American
teenager.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told government radio that they are
hoping for the immediate recovery of 17-year-old Fil-Am Ryan Lumba who is in
hospital after being shot in the stomach by lone gunman James Holmes.
"We hope and pray for his recovery," Lacierda said of Lumba.
Lacierda also asked mall operators in the country to be vigilant and ensure
the security of moviegoers and the like.
The movie theater was showing the latest Batman film "The Dark Knight
Returns" when Holmes burst in and fired at the audience. He has been arrested
and is under police custody.
'I hope this man won't shake our faith in God'
Associated Press
AURORA, Colorado—"I hope this evil act, that this evil man doesn't shake
people's faith in God," a bereaved muttered.

[PHOTO -'HE CALLED HIMSELF THE JOKER'. This photo provided by the
University of Colorado shows James Holmes. University spokeswoman Jacque
Montgomery says 24-year-old Holmes, who police say is the suspect in a mass
shooting at a Colorado movie theater, was studying neuroscience in a Ph.D.
program at the University of Colorado-Denver graduate school. Holmes is
suspected of shooting into a crowd at a movie theater killing at least 12 people
and injuring dozens more, authorities said. AP/University of
Colorado]
A Colorado suburb shocked and saddened by a deadly shooting spree at a
midnight unveiling of the latest Batman movie grieved for the victims while
authorities sought a motive and a safe way to reach clues inside the suspect's
apartment, still apparently rigged with an elaborate booby trap.
Authorities said that four weapons the attacker used in his killing spree at
the packed theater near Denver were purchased by the suspect from retail gun
stores in Colorado in the last two months.
Police grimly went door to door late Friday with a list of the victims killed
in the worst mass shooting in the US in recent years, notifying families who had
held out anxious hope that their loved ones had been spared.
Twelve people died and 58 were injured in the attack early Friday, a few of
those not by gunfire but in the chaos that ensued as the audience tried to flee
the smoke-filled theater, authorities said. Among the wounded, 11 were listed in
critical condition.
Fil-Am injured
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said
yesterday that the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco had confirmed that a
Filipino-American was among the 58 moviegoers injured during the shooting
rampage.
Hernandez said the Fil-Am was identified as Ryan Lumba, 17, and that he was
brought to the University of Colorado Hospital.
The deceased victims included 23-year-old Micayla Medek, said Anita Busch,
the cousin of Medek's father. The family took the news hard, but knowing her
fate after waiting without word brought them some peace, Busch said.
Besides Medek, relatives confirmed that Alex Sullivan and Jessica Ghawi were
among those killed, Sullivan on his 27th birthday.
Ammo bought via Internet
Hours after the shootings, it remained unclear what drove the suspect,
identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, to fire round after round at the
unsuspecting audience watching "The Dark Knight Returns."
Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said Holmes used a military-style semiautomatic
rifle, a shotgun and a pistol that he had bought at local gun stores within the
last two months. He also recently purchased 6,000 rounds of ammunition over the
Internet, Oates said.
The suspect's stellar academic record, apparent shy demeanor and lack of a
criminal background made the attack even more difficult to fathom.
It also wasn't known why the suspect chose a movie theater to stage the
assault, or whether he intended some twisted, intended symbolic link to the film
itself.
The new Batman movie, the last in the trilogy starring Christian Bale, opened
worldwide on Friday with midnight showings in the US. The plot has the villain
Bane facing Bale's Caped Crusader with a nuclear weapon that could destroy all
of fictional Gotham.
'The Joker'
In New York City, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said: "It clearly looks
like a deranged individual. He has his hair painted red. He said he was the
Joker, obviously the enemy of Batman."
Near the entrance to the Aurora theater's parking lot, a makeshift memorial
of 12 candles sat in a row near piles of flowers. Up the hill, about 20 pastors
led an emotional vigil for about 350 people, some hugging and crying. A sign
read, "7/20. Gone Not Forgotten."
An emotional Gov. John Hickenlooper said earlier Friday that people would not
be defined by the tragedy.
"We are clear that we are going to rise back and lift ourselves above this,"
he said.
Ballistic gear
A federal law enforcement official said Holmes bought a ticket to "The Dark
Knight Returns," went into the theater as part of the crowd and propped open an
exit door as the movie was playing. The suspect then donned protective ballistic
gear and opened fire, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to
discuss the ongoing investigation.
Authorities said he hit scores of people, picking off people who tried to
flee. At least one person was struck in an adjacent theater by gunfire that went
through the wall. Adding to the terror and chaos were gas canisters thrown by
the suspect that filled the packed suburban Denver theater with smoke. With a report from Philip C. Tubeza


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved




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