12 Dead in Colorado’s ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Theater Shooting; Gunman’s Identity Revealed, Warner Bros. Issues Statement (VIDEO)

The Century 16 Theatre where a masked gunman killed 14 people at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie (Photo : Reuters)

A gunman killed 12 people during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises, with up to 50 injured in Aurora, Colorado.

The suspect was identified as James Holmes, a 24-year-old from northern Aurora.

According to early reports, Holmes entered the Century 16 Movie Theatre of the Aurora Town Center via a backdoor of theatre room nine. Holmes would fire shots using multiple firearms, as well as releasing a gas canister. The gas, according to hospital representatives, was tear gas.

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Theatregoers described the gunman wearing a bulletproof vest, a gas mask, and a riot-type helmet.

Initial reports that 14 people were shot, but Aurora police would revise that number following further investigation. The youngest victim is a three-month-old baby, with the oldest, according to the local CBS station, to be 45-years-old. The three-month-old has since been discharged from the hospital.

Aurora police has since gone to Holmes' apartment, with caution as allegations of explosive devices may be located within the home.

The Aurora police chief, Dan Oates, said Holmes made the statement about possible explosives in his home. As a precaution, residents around the apartment building in north Aurora were evacuated around 2 a.m. while police searched the third floor of the building.

President Barack Obama has been notified of the events and in a statement said he is "shocked and saddened" by the deadly shooting and urged the nation to "come together as one American family."

The FBI has also entered into the investigation and said there is no indication that the shooting has any connection to terrorism.

Warner Bros. has stated to be "deeply saddened" about the morning's events. ""We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Paris red carpet premiere if the trilogy has been canceled as well as media interviews with director Christopher Nolan and cast members.

"He looked so calm when he did it. It was so scary," said eyewitness Trey Freeman. "I thought there was no way I was going to get out of there without getting shot."

"Loud bangs came from the right of the theater. Smoke took over the entire theater, and it was really thick, and no one could really see anything," said moviegoer Alex Milan to KUSA.

Those injured were transported to four nearby hospitals, many still in critical condition.

Amateur video from the theater has been uploaded on YouTube.