(STORY: BREAKING: 2/2 Alex Christopher Ewing faces multiple charges in the January 1984 murders of Patricia Louise Smith in Lakewood and Bruce, Debra and Melissa Bennett in Aurora. Ewing was convicted of killing 27-year-old Bruce and 26 year-old Debra Bennett, as well as their 7-year-old . [182][183], A memorial to the victims of the attack was installed near Aurora Municipal Center, some 850m (929.57yd) from the theater, and dedicated on July 19, 2018, one day before the sixth anniversary of the attack. On March 3, 1967, Charles Brett Lange was found legally insane & sent to the Colorado State Hospital instead of prison. [89] Holmes was represented by the Colorado State Public Defender. A lifetime ago on a Sunday night, Connie Bennett taught her 7-year-old granddaughter to pick out a melody on a chord organ, an early birthday gift shed nabbed from a thrift store for the girl, whod turn 8 in two days. [82], On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty. After a 11-day hiatus, he attacked Roy Williams at his home in Kingman, Arizona, using a rock. On October 30, 2012, the court hearing the criminal case against Holmes denied a motion by some of the survivors that would have let them access sealed evidence for review in their civil action against the theater chain. [165], Judge R. Brooke Jackson stated that for theaters today, "One might reasonably believe that a mass shooting incident in a theater was likely enough (that is, not just a possibility) to be a foreseeable next step in the history of such acts by deranged individuals". Some witnesses thought he was wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. She was rendered a paraplegic. When officers responded to the call and went by the home in the 1500 block of South Evanston Street, they saw the garage door partially open and lights on in the home, according to the affidavit. Martinez allegedly told the detectives that he and Kaden started drinking and smoking marijuana. She told him it was just a dream and to go back to bed, the affidavit said. history. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. Officers responded just after 8 a.m . NEW: Police release photos from the 1980s of Alex Christopher Ewing, suspect in 1984 hammer killings of Patricia Louise Smith and Bruce, Debra and Melissa Bennett. In Aurora, Colorado, Paula Sue Steinbach disappeared from her neighborhood around 8:00 p.m. on . Although it took authorities nearly four decades to . The disclosure was made at a court hearing in Centennial, Colorado, where news media organizations asked a judge to unseal court documents in the case. Colorado, a state where open carry is legal, has suffered through some of the most deadly mass shootings in American history, including the 1999 Columbine shooting and the Aurora theater attack in . In an interview on CNN, Teves' parents said they and the relatives of other victims believe the mass media coverage of Holmes' name and photo may inspire others to commit mass shootings for notoriety. She was more outgoing than her husband, Bruce, a Navy veteran who was quieter and easygoing. Police say DNA evidence links Alex Ewing to the 1984 murders of three members of Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, left. [30] He was described as being calm and "disconnected" during his arrest. Colorado hammer killer, aka Alex Ewing, was found guilty in the Bennetts' and Patricia Smith's murder cases in 2021 and 2022, respectively. For Connie, who expects to testify about discovering her sons body, the trial offers a chance to find some peace after a lifetime of struggling with the fallout from the killings. When Ewing was pinpointed as the perpetrator of the Bennett family and Smith attacks, he was already serving a 110-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Henderson-based couple. Face of the man accused of 1984 Hammer Attack Triple Murder in Aurora & Lakewood Murder. independent local journalism in Denver. Please see update. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15[19] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which eventually malfunctioned. 1993 Aurora, Colorado shooting Location 12293 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora, Colorado, US Date December 14, 1993 10:00 p.m. (MST) Attack type Mass shooting, armed robbery Weapon.25-caliber semi-automatic pistol Deaths 4 Injured 1 Perpetrator Nathan Dunlap Motive Revenge for being fired from Chuck E. Cheese's On December 14, 1993, four employees were shot and killed and a fifth employee was . [101], The sentencing phase began on July 22. Dunlap had recently been fired from Chuck E Cheese. Colorado Sun staff & wire report 8:31 PM MDT on Oct 30, 2022. Thirteen of the birds, with translucent wings, are on a center column and represent the twelve dead and the unborn child. Your chance of being a victim of murder in Aurora may be as high as 1 in 33,918 in the north neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 45,558 in the . He murdered 12 people and injured 70 others. [149] Cinemark closed the entire Century Aurora 16 multiplex in the wake of the shooting but reopened January 17, 2013, with a 40-minute ceremony led by Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, followed by a showing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. [38] The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting. Suspect Charges: Murder, Attempted Murder", "Colorado movie massacre suspect to be formally charged", "Lawyers: Colo. The aurora was caught on camera by photographer Nigel Wilkins, spectacularly lighting up the sky above Kenilworth Castle. [13] Police evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, which was about 5mi (8km) north of the cinema. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in France, Mexico, and Japan,[128][129] scaled down its marketing campaign in Finland,[130][131] and decided not to report box office figures for the movie until July 23. It makes you feel afraid all the time.. Some of the most infamous Colorado murders include the 1996 murder of JonBent Ramsey, the 1984 murder of Mark Groezinger, the 2000 double murder of Nick Kunselman and Stephanie Hart-Grizzell, and the Watts family murders. [48] On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment. The memorial, titled "Ascentiate," was designed by artist Douwe Blumberg. i wonder on Instagram: "I never did trust that smile, it sucks. It made it very difficult for her to lead a normal life She doesnt really remember anything about the initial attack, but over the years she had a lot of nightmares., The familys slaying was part of a string of hammer attacks in January 1984 that former Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said shocked the conscience of our community.. Xin cho cc bn, ti l Aurora Z. Bn c th gi ti l Aura v cho mng n vi knh ca ti ( Speaking Vietnam ) My Fav Fandom: Murder Drone ( My Super Fav . Martinezs grandmother said he called her around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 10 to tell her he had a bad dream that his mom and siblings were all dead. [102][103] On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. The jury consisted of 19 women and five men, two of whom had connections to the Columbine High School massacre. He required a feeding tube, had severely impaired movement, and could no longer speak. However, the jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire. Vanessa was found in bed, clinging to life beside a blood-soaked teddy bear. [137] Members of the Colorado Rockies baseball team also visited victims. Other famous mass murders in Colorado include the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre and the 2012 Aurora, Colorado . Investigators interviewed Martinez after reading him his Miranda Rights and he told them he picked up Kaden after he got off work on Friday, Dec. 9 around 5 p.m. There is nothing that can change anything. [55] Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater. recess on the first day of his Aurora Hammer Murder trial July 27 at the Arapahoe County Courthouse . But it doesnt seem like that long ago, because its so vivid in my mind.. [159] Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons. Though it was difficult to see the kaleidoscopic colours with the naked eye due to light pollution . Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney John Kellner declined to comment on the upcoming trial. Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning. She was hospitalized in a coma with serious facial injuries that left her paralyzed on her left side, Connie said. Bennett Family. Psychokillers / Gacy, Dahmer. [163][164] On January 24, 2013, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty issued a recommendation that most of the claims be thrown out, as they were not allowable under Colorado law. The following day, a woman died after an assault in the area of East Colfax Avenue and North Emporia Street around 6 a.m. In 1993, a 19-year-old gunman shot and killed three teenagers and their manager at a . This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. [114] Both Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the 2012 presidential election. Alex Christopher Ewing has been in a Nevada Prison for most of the past 34 yrs for a similar . On March 23, Boulder, Colorado officials announced that Ahmed Alissa is being charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree. Debra was attacked in bed. ", "Aurora heroes: Three who gave their lives", "Colorado shooting survivor tells how Crystal Lake boyfriend John Larimer shielded her before he died", "A look at the Lives of Colorado shooting victims", "People of the State of Colorado v. James Eagan Holmes", "Why Jessica Ghawi Wrote Under The Name Redfield: Moving Stories From The Shooting Victim's Colleagues", "Remembering aspiring sports journalist a year after Aurora shooting", "Jessica Ghawi: Victim of Colorado theatre shooting was also at Eaton Centre shooting", "Theater Shooting Victims Are 4 Months Old To Adults", "Hospital bills forgiven for Colorado shooting victims", "Woman who lost everything caps prosecution in Holmes trial", "Comedy helps pull Caleb Medley through tragedy of Aurora shootings", "Caleb Medley Recovery: Last Aurora Shooting Victim Leaves Colo. Hospital", "James Holmes guilty of murder in Colorado theater massacre; jury to weigh death penalty", "Shooting Victims Gain Veto Power in Donation Distribution", "Aurora movie theater shooting victims to respond to surveys", "Theater shooting: Payments from Aurora victim fund set, families of the dead get $220,000", James Holmes Mugshot: Aurora Shooting Suspect's Booking Picture Released" (PHOTO), Alex Brandon (AP), "Again appearing dazed in court, Holmes charged| Prosecutors and defense attorneys spar over whether a notebook that he reportedly sent to a psychiatrist is privileged information", "Colo. Most egregious was the 2019 police murder of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, a black man who died after . Because of his tactical clothing, Holmes was at first mistaken for another police officer. [20] Ambulances were hindered by chaos and congestion in the parking lot, and they were unable to reach the back of the complex where police had pulled the injured out through the emergency exit doors of Theatre 9. Two "very young" children and a woman who . [9], Holmes went to his car (which he had parked near the exit door), changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns. Nearly three years later, Holmes was found guilty of all the 165 counts brought against him, and he was sentenced . Martinezs grandparents, Eugene and Dallas Martinez, live in Texas and were staying with one of their daughters in Firestone, according to the affidavit. [31][32] Three days later, at his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado, Holmes's hair appeared reddish-orange. Joseph Castorena, a 21-year-old man who police . Sgt. Become a member to support the independent voice of Denver document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. Fortunately, they survived the attack. [104], On July 27, Holmes' sister stated in her testimony that her brother became withdrawn from the family after they moved from Salinas to San Diego during his early teenage years. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy, Family of Aurora man in police video speaks out, Potholes return to Evergreen road known for problems, Makar cleared to return from 2nd concussion protocol, Mercer has goal, 3 assists as Devils beat Avalanche, Racism case against Broncos, NFL going to court, Rockies among 17 teams MLB may take over broadcasts, Jokic has 100th triple-double as Nuggets down Rockets, Sean Payton tried to lure Vic Fangio back to Denver, found dead in their Aurora home Saturday night, Arrest made after 3 people found shot to death in Aurora home, Man shoots bowler who bumped into him, receives 23 years, 17-year-old charged as adult for attempted murder of police officer, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? He was also tried for the murder of Patricia Smith, an interior designer who was sexually assaulted and hammered to death six days before the Bennett murders. [3][6] Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began, and staff told people in Theater 8 to evacuate. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep the items. [72], Holmes' booking photo was released and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. James Holmes / Aurora, Colorado Movie Theater Shooting < Prev Chapter. [145] Warner Bros. [167], In a separate lawsuit in state court, Cinemark was sued by families of the victims, who alleged the theater should have taken greater measures to prevent such a shooting. Holmes confessed to the shooting but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. THOSE with their eyes to the skies on Sunday night (February 26) may have caught a very rare sighting of the northern lights. Updated 3/3/2023 1:35 PM. [107][108], Holmes was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 7 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision over sentencing him to death. [80] Due to suicide attempts made by Holmes, Judge Sylvester agreed to postpone proceedings until December 2012. Statistic Count Raw Aurora / 100k People Colorado / 100k People National / 100k People; Total Crimes Per 100K: 16,552: Violent Crime: 3,473: 900.4: 423.1: 387.8: Murder [154], The National Association of Theatre Owners distributed checklists from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures". Melissa was killed and sexually assaulted in the bedroom she shared with her sister. Only 3-year-old Vanessa, at right, survived. Now that the victims have received their fair share of justice, ID's People Magazine Investigates plans to retrace the steps back to 1984, when the Hammer Killer went on a 12-day-long murder spree. To me, it just means that there is a God.. [95] In the following week, two additional jurors were dismissed; the first due to emotional problems following the shooting of a family member, the second for recognizing a survivor who was wounded in the massacre. [26], When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices. [141][142] The film's release date was rescheduled to January 2013, and the theater scene was replaced by a new sequence in a different setting. 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. [36] Holmes was found carrying a first aid kit and spike strips, which he later admitted in an interview he had planned to use if police either shot at or chased him. Martinez called his grandparents again around 8 a.m. and told them he wanted to come to see them. Dressed in tactical clothing, 24-year-old James Holmes set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms. Sept. 15, 2021. [39] Speaking on behalf of himself and FBI agent James Yacone, who was in charge of the investigation, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said he was confident that the shooter acted alone. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. [96][97], On July 9, Judge Carlos Samour asked Holmes if he would testify in court, and advised him of his rights to do so. Join the Westword community and help support Cesar J. Ponce, 19 . January 16, 1984: Bennett family is attacked in their Aurora, Colorado home with 3 out of the 4 family members murdered by an intruder wielding a hammer. Jurors were prohibited from learning about Ewing's conviction for the Bennett family trial in Arapahoe County when a discussion attempted to draw parallels between the two murder cases. 26. The victim, identified as Helene Michelle Brooks, 57, died as a result of blunt force injuries and her cause of death is also considered a homicide, according to the coroner's office. Two Aurora, Colorado police officers charged after brutally beating 29-year-old Kyle Vinson. Regardless, it's another victory in what has been a historic year for law enforcement closing decades old notorious cold cases. The 10-part series, whose first three episodes debut today, brings to life Taylor Jenkins Reid's best-selling 2019 novel about an imaginary rock band from the '70s who release their magnum opus, Aurora, before they breakup, riven by the complicated, tortured relationship between singer/songwriter Jones (Riley Keough) and band co-founder Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin). Authorities are searching for a suspect in an overnight shooting that left four people dead at a home in Aurora. Earlier, he had rigged his apartment with homemade explosives and incendiary devices. A second trial was attempted earlier this year which went on for five days and took the jury over five hours to come up with a verdict that found him guilty of first-degree murder. [132] Some television advertisements for the film were also canceled. Martinezs grandmother then told detectives about the conversation she had with him at 1:30 a.m. On the call, he allegedly said he went to the Aurora house and was doing shots of tequila with Estancia, Marisol and Kaden. [22][23] He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles. [19][20][21] Finally, he fired a .40-caliber Glock 22 Gen4 handgun. [134] Warner Bros. reportedly made a "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to benefit victims. . Booking photos for (from left) Master Martin, Jesus Mendoz-Prudente and Jerome Johnson. [43] The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen and filled with at least 30USgal (110L) of gasoline. 3 Delayed By DC Following Aurora Shooting", "Batman Comic Postponed Because It Features A Teacher Pointing Gun at Students", "Warner Bros. tones down 'Batman' TV toon", "Hans Zimmer composes song for Aurora victims", "Century Aurora theater reopens with ceremony, showing of "The Hobbit", "Aurora theater shooting suits against Cinemark set for July 2016 trial", "Security Stepped Up Nationwide in Wake of Colorado Movie Theater Shooting", "Colorado Shooting 2012: Witness Says Gunman Shot Anyone Trying To Leave", "Cinema Security Tightened After 'Dark Knight' Shootings", "National theater association reviewing all security procedures in wake of Colorado midnight movie massacre", "Security Recommendations Sent To Theater Owners", "AMC Bans Masks And Fake Weapons at Their Theaters in the Wake of the Aurora Shooting", "Reassessing cinema security in the wake of Colorado's movie theater massacre", "Aurora theater shooting victims file suits against Cinemark", "Colorado judge denies theater rampage victims access to criminal files", "Aurora theater shooting judge denies victims' bid for records", "Judge says wrongful death claims in theater shootings should be tossed,", "Cinemark Again Denied Attempt To Toss Colorado Theater Shooting Lawsuits", "Cinemark Beats Victims' Lawsuit Over Mass Shooting at Colorado Movie Theater", "Cinemark Not Liable in Colorado Theater Shooting, Jury Finds", "Aurora theater shooting victims won't have to pay $700,000 in legal costs after Cinemark drops request", "First suit filed against University of Colorado in Aurora shooting", "What should a doctor do with a patient like James Holmes", "Aurora theater shooting: Gun sales up since tragedy", "Gun sales surging in wake of 'Dark Knight Rises' shooting", "Fear prompts gun sales after Colorado theater massacre", "Colo. rampage adds fuel to gun-control debate", "Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting", "As trial nears, debate grows over naming the Aurora theater shooting", "Victims' parents want "no notoriety" for mass shooters", "Aurora movie theater reopens 6 months after mass shooting", "Colorado movie theater, scene of mass shooting, reopens despite discontent", "Aurora Theater Reopens, Angering Some Family Members Of Victims", "Memorial to victims of Aurora theater shooting unveiled six years later", Map of theater, parking lot, and diagram of the charges, Map of theater, suspect's apartment, and hospitals, "Aurora Colorado theater shooting: The Big Picture", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2012_Aurora,_Colorado_shooting&oldid=1142415372, 70 (58 from gunfire, 4 from tear gas, 8 from fleeing accidents), This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 07:24. [133] Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21. Now, nearly four decades after the familys slaying part of a spree of attacks by the so-called Hammer Killer duringa 12-day span that spread fear across the Denver region a suspect is finally being brought to trial. [77], On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he is mentally ill and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand the opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions. In June 2016, a federal judge dismissed the last claims in the lawsuit. [5], The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall[6] at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. [67][68][69], The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families. At the time, the event had the largest number of victims (82) in one shooting in modern U.S. In addition to the fatal attack on the Bennetts and Smith, a 28-year-old woman was bludgeoned nearly to death and sexually assaulted after she pulled into her Aurora garage on Jan. 9, 1984. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. Henry from the My Corona series.". As it turns out, Ewing was imprisoned just months after the killings, after he beat a couple nearly to death with an ax handle in Nevada in August 1984 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted murder. After that, parole is a . [27] Some people reported the shooting via Twitter or text messaging rather than calling the police; officers were already at the theater by the time that the tweets were sent. According to Teves' father, the campaign's incentive is to encourage media outlets to limit the usage of the suspect's name and photos when reporting about the Aurora shooting, as well as other mass shootings that receive national media coverage. She declined to talk to TV news reporters or put Vanessas picture on the news. Victims & Timeline James Haubenschild: January 4, 1984 (wounded) Kimberly Haubenschild: January 4, 1984 (wounded) Donna Dixon (nee Holm), 28: January 4, 1984 (wounded) Patricia Louise Smith, 50: Kaden does not live at that residence and it was his first time at the location, the affidavit said. local news and culture, Michael Roberts He said he had a fight with his mom over his room being dirty but told them it was small and was not a big deal.. DNA, thats a miracle. The mandatory minimum sentence to serve is 20 years. [49] Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building. [3] The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. The perpetrator's first trial for Smith's case took place in October 2021. AURORA | Police are trying to determine what led to an apparent murder-suicide shooting in the driveway of a south Aurora home Friday afternoon. They entered the home to find Kaden Casteneda, 18, Marisol Espindola, 18, and Estancia Martinez, 41, stabbed and shot to death. He displayed photos of camping trips and family vacations with Holmes to the jury. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Connie raised Vanessa after the killings, and for years feared the killer would come back. The affidavit said Martinezs grandmother told investigators when Martinez arrived, he said to her, I think I killed my mom and sister. [78] Prosecutors alleged on August 24, 2012, that Holmes told a classmate he wanted to kill people four months before the shooting. [178], In 2015, a campaign titled "No Notoriety" was started by the parents of Alexander Teves, who died in the shooting. Arapahoe County district attorney George Brauchler said: "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death. January 27, 1984: Ewing attacks a man in Kingman, Arizona in his home; beats man's head with a hammer. Events Shooting The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. [14] Initially, few in the audience considered Holmes to be a threat. She still struggles to speak about the details of the attack, and chokes up when she thinks of the assault and murder of Melissa, whom she said was a sweet little girl. Debra was a family-focused woman who enjoyed spending time with her aunts in Lakewood, Connie said. But after Connie left that night, someone armed with a hammer entered the familys Aurora home and killed Melissa, her mother Debra Bennett, 26, and her father Bruce Bennett, 27. and help keep the future of Westword, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. The 27-year-old - also convicted on . [94], On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case. Earlier this year, he was found guilty of first-degree murder of Patricia. Published 3:23 PM EDT, Sun October 30, 2022. In 2001, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was able to establish a DNA profile from semen collected from the carpet and comforter in the Bennett sisters bedroom. AURORA, Colo. July 26, 2012 -- The movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., was not the city's first massacre. Holmes was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest, a ballistic helmet, bullet-resistant leggings, a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector, and tactical gloves. Director Christopher Nolan's reaction to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. December 11, 2022 / 9:35 AM / CBS Colorado. They called the Aurora Police Department around 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 and requested a welfare check after they had not heard from their other daughter and granddaughter all day, the document said.