There is one suspect in custody after 12 people were shot and killed at the Century 16 Movie Theaters at the Aurora Town Center. There were at least 50 people injured. The youngest of those injured is 3 months old. Early reports say this is the second highest mass casualty shooting by a single gunman in the history of the US. Certainly a tragic day here in Colorado. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all that are affected by this.
To all my friends and family, we are okay. Safe and sound and 3 boys oblivious to it all asleep upstairs as I type this. My husband and I had already seen The Dark Knight Rises the night before during a screening.
To find out more about the shooting please visit 9News.com and check their coverage of all the events. The suspect is in custody and 9News will have the latest info. You can follow them on twitter too. @9News
Aurora Theater Shooting. Teens in prayer – photo credit 9News.com
Talking to kids about this kind of tragedy can be hard. I know I’m not looking forward to telling my boys about this in a little bit. DenverParent.com has a wonderful and informative post on How to Talk to Your Kids About the Aurora Shooting. There is a lot of great information and links in that post. A must read.
I read/heard that there were kids in the theater. Young kids. There were kids as young as 3 months old injured in this. Another report said a 6 year old was there as well. As far as we can tell by news reports the 3 month old is fine. Update – the condition of the 6 year old is not known and Children’s Hospital will not confirm at this time. This was a midnight showing of a movie that is PG13. While I don’t agree with taking your kids to this, certainly they could not have predicted this tragedy. My prayers to those parents as well.
It’s now time for our community to band together and help the victims. If you have any information on charities helping with this or news stories reporting more info, please leave those links in the comments below. I do know the local blood banks are low on blood so donating today would be a great way to help.
Children’s Colorado has posted a tips article about how to talk to your kids about the Aurora movie theater shooting. The hospital also has set up a Family Support line (720-777-2300) to help families who need advice or help finding additional resources. The line will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and callers will be asked to provide their contact information. A behavioral health specialist will return their call within 24 hours.
Again, our hearts and thoughts are with those in Aurora today. I pray all of my readers and their families are safe and sound.
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My prayers are with everyone affected. I am so glad you all are safe!
I just can’t even being to wrap my brain around WHY someone would want to go shoot up a theater (or ANYTHING for that matter). It makes me so sad (and quite frankly, a little scared – but I refuse to live in fear).
It makes me wonder what safety measures will come as a result of this stupid act. And then I wonder, when Lincoln was assassinated, did people stop going to the theater? How long did it take for them to get back to “normal” and were security measures put in place after that? (I know – my mind goes CRAZY when it starts going!)
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Emily when I heard a blogger was one of the victims I immediately came to your blog having just met you over the weekend. I’m happy to hear you are ok but I am terrible saddening for the people who’s lives have changed now due to this shooting to those that have lost some one.
I can never wrap my head around why anyone at all would want to harm people they don’t even know, just because.
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This is a horrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the families and the theatergoers. Having said that I agree with you 100% about young kids at movies like this. Being a parent means being responsible and many times that means saying “no”. I am dealing with a 24 year old stepson who was spoiled and coddled and is now paying for it by not knowing how to survive on his own, make decisions, pick up after himself. Keep being a voice of sanity Emily!
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Glad to know you and family are ok. It’s such a shame all around
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my thoughts exactly. i always question the parenting skills when i see little kids at late movies. selfish people. this whole event was horrifying. i’m so sorry for the victims and their families.
Glad to hear you all are safe, Emily. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, especially on the children in the theater. I posted something similar on Facebook and Twitter and am already receiving flack from folks… “Well, the parents probably thought their 3-month-old would just sleep through the movie.” I don’t care! When you are a parent you have to be responsible. Taking a child as young as 3 months or ANY child under 13 to a movie like this is unacceptable. Thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by this senseless tragedy.
oh yes, i’m getting flack as well, but my blog, my opinions.
I took my middle child to a movie when he was 3 months old. BUT it was a cartoon movie and during the morning. I have no qualms about taking kids that young, just the timing, rating of the movie and violence in the movie is what made me write that.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the community as well. I agree with you about the young children who were in attendance. No, of course no one could have suspected that there would be a shooting at the theater, but it was wildly irresponsible to bring children to such a late showing of a PG-13 movie that surely contains lots of violence, strong language, and frightening images. My husband and I joked about wishing we could bring our almost 7 year old son to see the movie this weekend, but there’s no way. He would probably end up scared, in tears, and then he’d have nightmares for weeks. That would be bad enough…but to lose a child in a senseless act of violence like this, when the child shouldn’t have been there in the first place… that’s absolutely heartbreaking. Those parents are going to be tortured about their decision to bring him to the movie for the rest of their lives.
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Certainly they couldn’t predict this, but it is sad that something as simple as bringing your kid to the movie ended in tragedy. ABC news was reporting the 6 yr old passed away (not local ABC affiliate) but Children’s Hospital locally has not confirmed.
Hugs to you and your family. I think it must be 100x harder when it happens in your own back yard.
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So terrible.
I was thinking the same thing. Those kids were so young to be out that late in the first place.
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