Wonder if she got an intuition this time as well but ignored it? Or maybe she didn't recognize it because of the violence of the movie. Very sad. I have these intuitions and NEVER ever ignore them, they have saved my life more than once. It always comes to me as this "nagging feeling of fear", when I get it and that feeling I always change what it was I was doing and where I was going. Once it saved me from a 13 car pileup on a major freeway.........

It truly was a dark night:( So saddened by the GROWING evil in this nation. Pray for the families.

THIS shooting as those before are truly beyond words.

This one is a whole new level of sickness.

JUST too much! It is not about gun control.

There are some seriously sick sick people out there.

IKnowZero - you are rightly named, based on your post

Life imitating art. It's like straight out of one of those 'Final Destination' movies!

Wow. How odd is that, and tragic for this young lady. Devastating to the family. It goes to show you that you must listen to those voices that tell something is not right, especially you ladies. We are still too passive with our security, and surroundings, and if we think the people who want to do harm to us in America are not taking notes, we are destined to have another tragic day like today. My prayers to the family, they will never be the same. God Bless them. Amen.

It is so sad that she avoided tragedy only a short time ago and yet wound up being killed in this rampage. My heart goes out to all of those who were injured as well as the the families and friends of those who were injured and killed in this tragic event. I only wish that the police had shot the perpetrator instead of taking him into custody. It would have spared the victims as well as their families and friends from the additional trauma of a trial. No doubt some slick defense attorney will try and get this animal off on some insanity defense. I hope that this does not work and that this guy gets the death penalty. Then the sentence should be carried out quickly, not after a decade or more of appeals and legal maneuvering. Hopefully the judicial system will think of the victims for a change and prevent the upcoming trial from turning into a circus and keep the lawyers from dragging this out for an eternity, further compounding the trauma for all those affected by this animal's actions.

Seriously mattk0325? Lack of preparation? Not taking their self defense seriously? You really believe we should "take the defense of them and their neighbors seriously, so people die simply due to lack of preparation." to the point of carrying guns to a movie theatre? Why on earth would anyone even think to do that?

I swear lunatics are running the asylum.

I agree with the poster who stated there is no such thing as premonitions. People observe things without realizing what they are observing, or they don't really analyze why they are feeling a certain way. As the poster stated, the "premonitions" that come to nothing are never remembered.

@Tombones..I just saw that movie last night on TV (Final Destination)..weird this happen to her in a short period of time. RIP lady.

@Iknowzero you have truly shown that you know zero (nothing). You ignorant B**ta*d; how could you know she didn't have a bad feeling that she didn't listen to? Who are you to say there are no premonitions? Where you there? So many people just lost loved ones and have family that are injured; you sit there all high and mighty acting like you have answers. My prayers go to the families and all those that were in Denver and who responded to this atrocity. I have a wife and children and I could never imagine what any of the people involved must be thinking or feeling. I only hope they everyone involved has someone that they can lean on in this time of need and if you don't ask someone and they should be able to point you in the direction of someone to lean on. My thoughts, prays, and condolences to everyone.

mattk0325 people like you always talk a good game but its like you said yourself her defenses were down because she was at a freakin movie so unless you walk around in a constant state of paranoia how can you be prepared. Plus with all the chaos and smoke your telling me you would just hope up and shoot the killer dead on. No chance of you missing at hitting an innocent person and that is also assuming your not sick from the smoke or that he hasn't shot you first. There were military people in the theater and they didnt manage to take him out so if it was hard for them, even with their training, how would you?? And how do you prepare to go to the movies??? So load your purse up with knives and guns so you can be prepared for the movies??

iknowzero: How do YOU know she didn't? Were you inside her head?

According to some articles..persons who were in that theater at time of shooting stated..those shot first were the ones standing up running to the doors..easy target that way. Hard to judge reactions if in that situation..I for one would hit the floor and crawl on my belly as much as possible and hope the shooter is going the other way.

My condolences to all the families involved, including the shooter's who, I am confident are equally horrified & will be dogged due to their son's horrendous and devastating actions. Talk about fate. Sometimes it's not your time and sometimes it just is. But my heart goes out to her family and all the other. If this is the open and shut case it appears to be, I hope that justice is served quickly.

The more guns taken away from good people and honest people - the more guns are in the hands of kooks and sickos who ignore the law, without the innocent having any way to defend themselves. This is especially troublesome when you see these madmen being given long expensive trials by stupid jurists who are only there because they can't get a real job and don't have a real life. More often than not - they are put away for a few years and then get out to continue on their way to hell. This guy was smart enough to know to wear protective clothing, vests, neck guard, groin shield and shin guards. But a good shot to the face would have ended this tragedy and probably saved at least half of the people who were killed and injured. We should all have guns in our purses and strapped to our bodies - and the bad guys should be well aware that we are probably packing and that we practice, and we usually hit what we aim at - then they will think twice - and if not, they will be limited in the damage they can inflict on the good citizens of this country. And we won't be forced to feed and house them for 10 or 12 years until they get out and can do it all again. AZ has proven that more legal guns reduce crime significantly. If everyone were trained and carried a defensive weapon - the drug addicts, free-loaders, and terrorists would be less successful and eventually they would all be dead! We need more pragmatists in government - and not a bunch of pansy pascifists without a clue. Americans are becoming way too soft and way too afraid of everything.

Call them "premonitions", "gut feelings", or "woman's intuition" - they come from the Spirit of God. I have no answers as to why some people get them and some people do not or why some folks heed them while others do not. What I do know is that we all have an appointed time to die then face God's judgment (Hebrews 9:27) However, that does not excuse us from taking care of ourselves or from ignoring potential warning signs from mentally disturbed people like the man who did this horrible thing. Did no one in his family or circle of friends see this coming? Read the Bible. We are all accountable for our actions and inactions. We are guaranteed to have troubles and trials in life. (John 16:33) Unfortunately, we cannot always avoid the actions of a sick, evil individual who acted on his God-given free will. Most of us if we were honest would admit we want a "feel-good Gospel" that says "I'm okay, you're okay" - that you can do what you want without consequence because God loves us and we are good people, etc." Yet, that is not the truth. When we take God out of our lives as a society and choose to glorify violence instead, this is what we get. Mark God's Word, that man will meet his Maker and have to account for what he did. May the Lord have mercy on him. I am still in shock over this tragic event and am praying for the people injured, for those who died, and for their families and friends.

@mattko: Considering the guy was wearing body armour, a throat protector, etc., etc., I doubt someone would have been able to take him out with a handgun. A .50 cal. machine gun, a bazooka or a RPG launcher, maybe, but don't think a handgun would have done the trick. He had to have planned this for some time. I just don't know what could cause a person to perform such an unspeakably evil act. It is just terrible.

a writer - I'd rather be "too soft" than a lunatic like yourself. I chose to live my life the way I see fit - to the fullest and taking in what i can while I'm still on this earth - not stuck in the tracks of some delusional paranoia.

I think matt made the proper point poorly. Or at least some of you are taking it the wrong way. It isn't that every single person on earth must at all times have a high powered rifle on their person to protect themselves. But if in a crowded theater as this was just one or two or even three did have a firearm then at least the people there might have a fighting chance.

And no, you do not have to use a n RPG to get through body armor. You don't even have to get a head shot in the dark against a moving target. It is often just enough to knock them back and throw them off what they are doing. Once THEIR plan goes haywire then you have more of a chance to survive.

The fact that people in the military were in the theater and weren't able to stop him is irrelevant since we don't know where they were relative to him, or if they had any weapon with which to use.

Now, can we all leave, at least for the time being, the issue of gun control or of concealed carry permits or whatever alone, and just focus on the tragedy this is. If you want to consider "solutions" then try to figure out how so many well-educated people keep going on these rampages. There was Virginia, the law school in Appalachia (no snickers about being well educated there please), the university student in Oakland, and more. Something is wrong. It isn't too many guns, or access to them--smart people can figure out ways around this anyhow. No, something is wrong with modern culture. Could it be that so many people are finding themselves lost and alone the more "advanced" we become?

ps--I'm not naive. I know that mass murders took place decades and centuries ago too. It's that the nature of the murderer seems very different today.

There are such things as premonitions.

Intuition is a well researched but little understood topic. I believe it is true that human beings can sense things that are beyond normal 5 senses.

Regardless whether that is true or false - i think all would agree that nothing is more sad than a young life taken away without allowing to achieve its full potential. It's utterly sad.

first i want to send prayers out to all the suffering familys that lost loved ones, in such a disgusting & senseless act !!! . . .But what pours salt in the wounds is the media flashing a picture of his "DISGUSTING FACE" every chance they get!!!!! . .they have him in custody !! so WHY should we give him that attention that people like this "THRIVE" on . .it should be a blacked out picture !!dont add any fame to what he did or give it some stupid catchy title to name this loathing act!! . .lets only show pictures of the poor people who he took the lives of!!!! & remember them . .not this lowlife !!

skrekk, that's just crass and wrong.

Stacey that's absurd.

This was a crazy, sad event that took place because some lunatic flipped his lid. There's no point in speculating about premonitions or quoting scripture. Just remember this sort of occurrence and use it to realize that life is short and we should strive to be the best we can be.

For those who lost someone, I'm very sorry. I can only imagine...

None of us ever know. Each moment is precious and its all fast and fleeting. Somehow somewhere there is a lesson about our treatment of others as we would like to be treated and not to make a moment feel wasted, even if it is a precious moment of rest from life's stress.

thrstonlovi1099 - skrekk, that's just crass and wrong.

Apparently your god gets the credit when things work out OK, but not the blame when they don't. That seems a bit hypocritical.

uh, mattko, reports say he was protected with body armor, even the throat and the crotch. MAYBE a sharp shooter MIGHT have been able to knock him back, in the dark and with chemical bombs having been thrown...probably not, but maybe. Some schmuck like you or me though would have most definitely killed more innocent movie goers.

NO, average citizens should NOT carry guns in movie theaters, schools, airplanes, etc. I think anyone who wants to purchase a murder weapon should be reqired to submit to a thorough psychological exam and family history check prior to purchasing the weapon.

Perhaps folks will blame the University of Colorado like they did VA Tech, rather than the supplier of the weapons.

Skrekk, thanks for the smile...it takes some of the bite out of reading such a horrific story. I was thinking the same thing about god, in both of your comments.

Whats the deal with some people on this post? The girl had a strange feeling and left the mall and that turned out to be correct..regardless of what it was..I wish she could have had it at the movie. My prayers to the family.

I watched the movie last night with my son at a different theater across town from the one where this happened. Given that it got out late (3 AM) and my son and I chit chatted while on the way home, I had no idea until my phone woke me this morning going bonkers. In any event, I agree that there is no such thing as a "premonition". However, we pick up lots and lots of clues from our surroundings all the time and do well to heed those clues (same is true of dealing with people in business and life). There's no need to attack those posters who are pointing this fact out. Let's not try to turn it spiritual. We are better equipped to perceive danger than we realize and should not turn that fact into some sort of magical mythology. The long and short is she's dead and it's heart breaking that her family and many others are in such deep pain today.

A beautiful young lady with a future. What a shame she avoided the shooting in Canada only to be gunned down by that ignorant basta*d in this country. We never know.

Before I say something critical, let me say that this is a horrible tragedy for her and her family. My heart goes out to them. Still, isn't this evidence that her initial "premonition" was all in her head. You'd think if anything saved her, it wouldn't have done so only to have her get shot somewhere else. This is mere evidence that there are way too many crazy people with guns and nothing else.

From the article, it seems the young lady was smart, sweet, loved and doing what she wanted and needed to do to move forward in her life. Seeing her photo saddens me. She's gone and the murderer lives. Crazy. So sorry to her family and friends. The devastation of what happened to her and all those involved in this incident is certainly something that will not be forgotten. Violent people in a violent world. Such a shame.

JUST too much! It is not about gun control.

There are some seriously sick sick people out there.

Its about controlling guns so sick people do not have access

to them. Not about stopping people who want to own guns from owning them but the arms merchants do not want to miss one sale.

As vile as Feisty Redhead often is I hope she is not the same person. But I really doubt it was her if only because this victim had a love of life, not an apparent hatred for anyone who had a differing thought.

Hi Ann,

Every year hundreds of thousands of crimes (and these are the ones reported to the police and get reported further to the FBI) are prevented, or stopped short of completion, because someone who the perp didn't expect to have a gun had one. I don't think the point is, or ever should be, that everyone should have a gun, just that those who are otherwise law-abiding ought to be able to.

Just a couple days ago an elderly man in a cafe shot and wounded two criminals who were armed. They were able to run out of the cafe because the old man didn't kill them, but the crime was stopped, and the bad guys caught. A few months back a woman in Oklahoma (I think) shot people who were trying to commit a home invasion, but the crime was stopped. About a week ago a boy, 13 or 14 I think, protected his siblings who he was watching while his parents were out with, you guessed it, a gun. He killed the perp, but the crime was stopped.

So, what a predicament we face. We can't eliminate guns. We can't, really, stop intent criminals from getting a gun. We can have the police and paramedics show up after the shooting has ended to bag up the bodies and so on. But why not also allow law-abiding people to conceal on their person a weapon which could have stopped this very tragedy before it became this bad? Yes, it is possible that someone with a gun could inadvertantly shoot innocents, but there is little evidence this occurs where CCW's are more easily obtained anyhow, so why assume it would happen?

The sad point about this particular example is that people like you assume that without a kill shot then any intervention would fail, when in fact very few firearm incidents (as a percentage of the total) result in a kill. It usually is just enough to injure, or knock the perp out of sorts, to get enough time for either a better shot or an escape.

Colorado for being such a beautiful state is really getting an ugly mark..Living there for many years I was around during the Kleybold days, It sucked then as it sucks now..

Seriously we as citizens and law enforcement need to work together and get involved in the minds and homes of these mindless twits..they all have the same MO as the Norwegian killer, stock piles of weapons.

I understand exactly what you mean! It was my first thought also. I truly believe that when it is your time, it is your time. I, in no way, am trying to be disrespectful to her or her loved ones. My heart is breaking for them at this unbearable time. You are all in our thoughts. May you find solace in your memories.

My sentiments exactly.

Not my sentiments. I don't think it was her time. I think her life was stolen from her by someone else.

Final Destination, exactly what I thought. How eerie. My sympathy to all of the victims families. Terrible.

You can't CHEAT death... end quote.

Guess Ali Larter was right.

Baloney! What an insensitive statement! The fact that a person can't go to the mall or movie without getting killed by an unstable rampager shows not that it was her time to go, but rather that these things are happening more often, and our chances of encountering them are greater than ever. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE! It may make us feel better and less upset if we passively rationalize it away and say "it must have been her time", but that is a form of denial. We need to face that fact that things are happening in our society that never used to happen, and ask ourselves "why?" so that we can have a hope of turning this horrible trend around.

I'm with you realist. Her life was stolen. She had no reason to die, and frankly, I don't think that any loving God would have a plan to do something which would hurt so many people. What a selfish God that would be. Nope, this killer stole the lives of many people, and maybe more will die. If found guilty I think his life should be taken. Not exactly pure justice, but it's the best we have. Pure justice would have been this killer dying in a one car accident on the way to the theater before he harmed anyone.

I'm with you realist. Her life was stolen. She had no reason to die, and frankly, I don't think that any loving God would have a plan to do something which would hurt so many people. What a selfish God that would be. Nope, this killer stole the lives of many people, and maybe more will die. If found guilty I think his life should be taken. Not exactly pure justice, but it's the best we have. Pure justice would have been this killer dying in a one car accident on the way to the theater before he harmed anyone.

I'm with you realist. Her life was stolen. She had no reason to die, and frankly, I don't think that any loving God would have a plan to do something which would hurt so many people. What a selfish God that would be. Nope, this killer stole the lives of many people, and maybe more will die. If found guilty I think his life should be taken. Not exactly pure justice, but it's the best we have. Pure justice would have been this killer dying in a one car accident on the way to the theater before he harmed anyone.

My apologies, I kept getting an error message saying it would not post. Please report the second and third posts until they are collapsed.

Rich I think you are wrong on some of this! it is true you can't cheat death when your number is up it is the end. Yes, someone stole a full life from her but that is life no matter how you look at it. Don't blame God for taking her life it was the man who pulled the trigger but I personally believe everything has its rhyme and reason you may not see that at this moment but it will come clear soon enough. Even though they are gone something may come from this good or bad its just how it works. There is I think a grand plan and we just don't know what it is and probably never will but it is there.

Why during such events we blame God and then want to call the Country to prayer? Push Him out of schools, government and everyday life when it is not convenient and then during tragedy call on Him. What is God to you?

I agree it would not have been hard for the cops to agree that he pointed his weapon at them

if he was shot at the scene the police wouldnt have had any idea about the boobie trap at his apartment and then more people may have been killed. everything happens for a reason.

I agree the odds are astronomical for her to be at the wrong place and wrong time in Toronto and Aurora. I've had premonitions from time to time. I acted on some of them and ignored others. Those that I ignored I usually regretted. Anyway, hope the victims who are not already dead have a very speedy recovery.

"Safe area" and "Gun Free Zone" (Toronto Mall) can't co-exist in the same place

TheDogofWar - "Safe area" and "Gun Free Zone" (Toronto Mall) can't co-exist in the same place

Yes, we'll all be safer when we have more guns in malls and movie theaters. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) thinks more bibles will help too:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/louie-gohmert-aurora-shootings_n_1689099.html

Just now her brother mentioned on TV her blog name was "Feistyredhead" - I hope this isn't "our" feistyredhead" (whether you agree with her or not she is one of the "community" here on nbc.com).

I agree! I thought that was really REALLY strange that he was able to compose that blog this quickly -- whether it was 5 minutes or 5 hours after he heard the news.

One of my friends went into premature labor and was updating her facebook status as her husband rushed her to the hospital. The baby was breach and she was in terrible pain but right up until one of the nurses bodily snatched her phone away from her she was updating everyone through facebook. As soon as her child was born and she was cognizant again she began carrying on about needing internet access. She did not get to hold her own daughter for 3 days but she was upset that she couldn't get on facebook. We are the same age (late 30's) and I am still stunned by that behavior. I have not even looked at my FB page in over a year and I certainly would not rush to the internet in the face of a tragedy, I would rush to my family physically. Guess I'm just old fashioned like that.

Perhaps not how I would use my time following something like this, but for many people, using social media is a way of reaching out to others...and for others to reach back. Far be it for me to judge.

Deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones today.

but for many people, using social media is a way of reaching out to others..

I disagree. I call it being a media whore and trying to capitalize on a shameful opportunity.

JMB, I sincerely hope you will never have to find how how you would react and how people would characterize your reaction should something horrific like this happen to one of your siblings. I truly, truly hope you never know such grief.

A few people are just evil, whether it's a conscious choice, bad upbringing, distorted brain chemistry, or lousy DNA. Though this guy won't see the outside of a prison again, his defense will be mental illness. Diseased or not, he was awfully well-organized, and it's hard for most of us, obnoxious as we can be, to imagine that kind of monstrosity.

I wouldn't have minded the cops shooting him either, but I guess they had to take into account the possibility that he wasn't acting alone, instead of being simply one more citizen with a gun.

These tragedies are becoming more and more common, I think illustrated by the fact that a person found herself in that situation twice! This is truly frightening. We need to ask ourselves EVERY kind of question as to why as a society we are unravelling like this. More guns than ever out there? True. More unstable, dysfunctional families raising kids with different fathers or no father at all? True. More broken relationships, people cheating on each other before and after marriage. True. More access to drugs and alcohol at all ages? True. People need love, acceptance and stability and all of the above (which are endemic in our society more than ever) undermind that. Add regular consumption of violent media and games, and weakening and even removal of boundaries in terms of acceptable behavior, and we have a deadly cocktail that is producing this kind of tragedy on a regular basis.

People, we need to take a hard look at all these things if we don't want our society to completely deteriorate. Unfortunately, in doing so it means taking a good look at our own lives and values and perhaps making some changes, which if everyone did it could change things for the better one family at a time. But that's the hard part and probably won't happen. We love our vices, and anyway it's so much easier to just chalk it up to "oh, just another crazy nutcase." But why are we producing so many?

Everyone laughed and/or got angry at Dan Quayle for his family values speech 20 years ago but he was right...

To Lisa,

Because we are producing more...it's all in the numbers.

Well that's just stupid. So where is this giant clock that determines when everyone lives or dies?

Part of God's plan, Mr. Zimmerman?

Chris,

You got the first part correct however, this could have been prevented "AND" nature had nothing to do with it.

Have a nice day.

CD

The cosmic, God, whatever you call it. Not really a clock, but just fate. Even a gut feeling cannot save you from that, just delay a short time. I fail to see how this could have been prevented.

Your comment makes me sick. "Nothing could have been done to prevent this" Maybe in the incredibly idiotic liberal world you live in, but in my ideal world, that dumbass would have walked into a theatre where at least 20 people had a weapon, and his life would have been over the second he got 1 shot off. This could have EASILY been prevented, if only people in today's society took the defense of their loved ones and neighbors seriously.

Even easier than that, the shooter could have easily prevented it by just staying at home!

Yeah, matt, you know exactly how that would play out. In reality (not your ideal world where everyone is armed and things go perfectly) who knows if anyone would have seen which one was the shooter in all the confusion and how many would have ended up shot? You have no clue, and making sure every single person has a gun never gives promises that anyone can get a shot off at the right person and even have an opportunity to get a clear shot or not end up shooting someone who is trying to shooter the real shooter. Your idea world consists of video games you can play until it suits your imagination.

Weather everyone had a gun, or even if this guy stayed home, a stray bullet, or someone else would have done the shooting. It makes no difference. Totally not prevenable, no matter what laws you put in place. You cannot stop fate from occuring. Times up, it's up. It was her time. Nothing in the world could prevent that. Weather it was this way, or another, matters not. Sorry my comment makes you sick, but so many people want things sugar coated, and I perfer to speak the truth. Just me. Might not make me popular, but the truth never is.

There may not have been a good way to prevent this, but I'd rather have a way to defend my loved ones as opposed to being defenseless in the face of an armed criminal or deranged mad man. Maybe it's just me?

My heart goes out to all of the people affected by this terrible tragedy… God’s speed to you all!

Matt,

I'm with you..trained, armed civilians could've taken this guy out after the first shot. People just don't seem to realize how many folks are capable & willing to do somthing like this...if it wasn't for all the laws protecting the criminals...

I am sorry, but did ANY of you gun happy folks read the fact that this guy had body armor everywhere and the theater was dark and full of chemical warfare? No, you would not have gotten him after the first shot, but i am sure you would have gotten someone. Idiots. This isn't a liberal/ vs conservative debate. It is common sense.

Lol. I believe Co it's not impossible to get a CPL if you want one. Most states are like that. Had this been CA, this would be a debate. In spite of being able to get a CPL, I see no one going out that night had one, and was willing/able to take out the attacker. So why are we debating gun laws?

There was also a story of lady that was suppose to be on one of the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center and for whatever reason didnt get to go. A few years later she died in a plane crash.

Maybe a lack of social acceptance (no fellowship) ...Maybe the laws are not just . There was a time in this country and around the world , these incidents did not occur . Most crimes in the past , were easily explained . My question is ; Could some types of media and social attitudes contribute to these incidence?

Sad that anyone lost their life there and many others suffering. What could make a person go so crazy?

That's exactly what I was thinking.

FD-6

Billie,

Sorry, going to have to disagree with you. If someone in that theatre had a permit to carry and was able to use their gun, there might not have been so many killed and injured!

Not likely Schoolyard.... he was wearing a bullet-proof vest....

Ohhhh Billie. You are so wrong. I bring mine everywhere I can legally take it (even Target). I have yet to have it jump in my hand and start shooting people.

Also, a bullet proof vest will stop a penetrating wound, yes. But if you get hit, you will still feel it and it may knock you down depending on range. It doesn't make you Superman, or in this case, Batman.

RecyclerMom,

One word.........HEADSHOT!

Roxlie,

Like you I also carry mine everywhere I go, except banks,schools and courthouse.

"That is not a good idea to bring a loaded gun to any public place..."

With all due respect, an armed citizen in that theater might have saved some or most of the lost lives by taking out the shooter in the first seconds or minute of his rampage. Gun free zones are the least safe places to be; criminals know they are unlikely to meet resistance there.

Yea right! A bunch of people shooting each other in a crowded dark smoky theatre. I know I'd feel safer--NOT!

With all due respect for good intentions, an armed citizen in a crowded, dark theater might have been just as likely to hit other unarmed citizens, unless that citizen happened to have highly specialized training.

First, I want to express my deepest condolences to everyone that lost their lives, friends and family members of the victims, and all emergency personnel who worked at the scene. It is sad that so many people are now adversely affected because of one sick, heinous individual's act.

RecyclerMom,

Does the vest he was wearing protect his head or lower extremities? I am sure the gunman could have been shot somewhere to bring him down. It also smarts a lot to get shot while wearing a bullet proof vest. Just because the vest "stops the bullet" doesn't mean it literally is not like getting punched in the gut/chest. That could have been enough to slow him down. Would it be easy to shoot at someone spraying the area with bullets? Probably not. Can it be done? Yes. If it was a possible choice of running and hoping that the gunman didn't shoot me or defending myself, I would prefer to have a chance to defend myself.

Sure, spraying the area with bullets as the gunman walked up the aisles. Just add a few more flying bullets to the chaos. What about the people who would be on the other side of the aisle behind the gunman? They would be the recipients of the spray of bullets from the armed citizen.

Holmes was wearing a bullet-proof vest and riot helmet and carrying a gas mask.

To Mom,

Head shot.

@watajoke: Realize your intentions of advice is good but I will tell you, 'the authorities' will not do a da*n thing if you report someone as virtually the Police hands are tied until someone commits an offense. You can thank the Human Rights Activisits and their agenda who protect these whackos. If you don't believe me ask any Cop how many are on the loose in society. I've asked and I've been told, if you knew you wouldn't want to leave the house. I'm a Canadian but I doubt if it is different in the United States.

Actually if you report someone it will at least be on record so that if they commit a "small" crime there is a record of past behavioral problems. Also the authorities are not only cops, call social services or CPS (if applicable), they might be able to help.

@someonewholiveshere: I wish you were right. I live in Canada's Capital City and it was only a few weeks ago that our Police Department who has a system of 'carding' was being challenged by an Human Rights Activist Group (lead by a University Professor may I add). It is a system that if an individual has shown aggressive behaviour either verbally or physically though not necessarily has been charged, their name is still put into a data bank. ie: A Panhandler that harrasses a passer-by by stalking them.

As far as calling Social Services or CPS, that is joke as hate to say it but most are just Government employed pencil-pushers and are there just earning a salary counting their days to retirement. Press 1 for ........, press 2 for .......,

I work for CPS in my State; a call like this would have to go through our hotline, and unless one can show an immediate and clear and present danger to a child or children, FROM THE PARENTS OR THE ADULTS IN THE HOME, the hotline wouldn't take the call because CPS would have no legal authority to investigate.