July 20, 2012 11:44 AM UTC

Shooting/Bombing At Aurora Town Center Century 16 Theater

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• by: ProgressiveCowgirl

POLS UPDATE 12:05PM: At a press conference moments ago, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates reported that at least 71 people were shot in total, and 12 have died.

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A serious shooting and/or bombing incident with probable loss of life has occurred at the Century 16 theater at the Aurora Town Center mall, during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. From our own Andrew Bateman on Facebook:

I work across the street from the century 16 theater where the shooting/bombing took place tonight. I’m seeing helicopters and bomb squads. Estimates are between 20 and 40 injured. The scene here is crazy.

News outlets are reporting that police are not calling back with information and the only source of news for even the reporters is police/fire scanners like this one. There’s also a live feed here. I’m currently listening and hearing discussions of bringing a bomb dog to the scene.

The International Business Times is reporting 12 dead, but states that report is “unconfirmed.”

Police scanner is currently stating 20 patients at the University hospital, three are at Denver General, at least three at Children’s, two to Swedish. Victim’s advocates are being brought to the scene and Red Cross is being paged to assist evacuees being bused to a nearby high school. The University total of 20 includes one tough-as-nails patient who walked in with a gunshot wound under his or her own power. Another officer reported a pregnant woman was shot and transported to the hospital. All officers not currently on assignment are being paged to the command post at Century 16. No vehicles will be allowed to leave the scene–all evacuees are being transported by bus.

Opening up a thread for discussion and so that Polsters in the area can check in as alive and unharmed.

Praying for the victims and wounded, and hoping that there will be opportunities for community members to do more than pray as it becomes clear who is in need following this incident. Those wounded will have a long road to recovery, and if indeed–G-d forbid–there has been loss of life, survivors will need their community’s support.