People News

The Dark Knight cast horrified by Colorado Shooting

By April MacIntyre Jul 23, 2012, 1:49 GMT

Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Christopher Nolan Hand and Footprint Ceremony at Grauman\'s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on July 7, 2012 - Grauman\'s Chinese Theatre - Hollywood, CA, USA © Emiley Schweich / PR Photos

The Dark Knight massacre in Aurora, Colorado has the cast and crew of the film issuing statements of disbelief.

It now appears that the gunman’s semiautomatic assault rifle jammed and prevented him from emptying a 100-round magazine of ammunition, according to a law enforcement source, reported by the associated press.

The shooter, identified by authorities as James Holmes, 24, did not immediately surrender to police and could have come close to escaping because of his SWAT team officer clothing.

The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan immediately offered condolences to the 12 victims and their families following the worst U.S. gun rampage that happened early Friday morning in a suburban Denver mall. All in all, 71 people were shot by Holmes.

"I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community," the British filmmaker said in a press 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."

Nolan concluded: "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."

Gary Oldman, Gotham police commissioner James Gordon in all three of Nolan's Batman films added, "My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families of this horrific act."

The AMC chain of theaters has officially banned people wearing costume to enter to watch the film.

Warner Bros. pulled the violent trailer for Gangster Squad from all future Dark Knight Rises screenings as one scene was art imitating life, a violent gun shoot up inside a theater struck too close to home.

E! news reports that the main stars, Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway, each gave their statements as well. Hathaway says, "My heart aches and breaks for the lives taken and altered by this unfathomably senseless act, I am at a loss for words how to express my sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

Bale's statement read, "Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."