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Obama to Visit Colorado Shooting Victims

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about the Aurora, Colorado shooting at a campaign event in Ft. Myers, Florida, July 20, 2012.
President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about the Aurora, Colorado shooting at a campaign event in Ft. Myers, Florida, July 20, 2012.
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VOA News
The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama will travel to Colorado Sunday to visit with victims of Friday's mass shooting rampage and their families.

A White House spokesman announced plans for the trip Saturday night, and said it will include meetings with local officials.  The itinerary was disclosed just hours after President Obama used his weekly radio address to call for national prayer and reflection, as the Denver suburb reels from the tragedy.

Twelve moviegoers were killed and dozens wounded early Friday as a gunman sprayed scores of bullets into a crowded theater.


  • Judy Goos, second from left, hugs her daughter's friend, Isaiah Bow, 20, while eye witnesses Emma Goos, 19, left, and Terrell Wallin, 20, right, gather outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning July 20, 2012 in Denver.
  • Jacob Stevens, 18, hugs his mother Tammi Stevens after being interviewed by police outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning after a shooting at a movie theater, in Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2012.
  • Shamecca Davis hugs her son, Isaiah Bow, who was an eye witness to the shooting, outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning in Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2012.
  • Police outside of Century 16 movie theater where as many as 14 people were killed and many injured at a shooting during the showing of the movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
  • An Aurora Police officer talks on his radio outside of the Century 16 theater at Aurora Mall where as many as 14 people were killed and many injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, July 20, 2012.
  • Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates talks to media at Aurora Mall where as many as 14 people were killed and many injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theater, July 20, 2012.
  • A SWAT team officer stands watch near an apartment house where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colorado, July 20, 2012.

Earlier Saturday, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said bomb squads disarmed a tripwire and detonated a homemade explosive device at the suspect's apartment near Friday's crime scene.  Oates said the apartment was rigged to kill whomever first entered it.  He said in all likelihood that would have been a police officer.

James HolmesJames Holmes
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James Holmes
James Holmes
Police identified the suspect as James Holmes, a 24-year-old student whom officials say was preparing to withdraw from a graduate studies program.

The heavily-armed Holmes was arrested just outside the theater right after the bloodbath, in possession of a rifle, a shotgun, two handguns, a gas mask and a bulletproof vest.

Officers then surrounded the young man's apartment building about six kilometers from the crime scene, and evacuated all residents.  

Police said the attacker's motivations remained unclear, nearly two days later.

President Barack Obama and one of the top Republican figures in Congress, House Speaker John Boehner, were among national leaders who have publicly mourned the victims and offered condolences to their families.

Photo Gallery: Memorial for Victims

  • Marietta Perkins prays during a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
  • A view of the memorial site for the victims is seen behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 21, 2012.
  • Isaac Pacheco leaves a birthday card for his friend Alex Sullivan, who was killed Denver-area movie killings, at a memorial site for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 21, 2012.
  • Isaac Pacheco (C) is comforted after leaving a birthday card for his friend Alex Sullivan, who was killed in the Denver-area movie killings, at a memorial site for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado Jul
  • People grieve during a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
  • People grieve during a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
  • People embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
  • A memorial of flowers is set up for victims on a hillside behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado July 21, 2012.

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by: Andrew from: China
July 22, 2012 4:17 AM
The guy is ruteless,he should be punished by the police.

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