Four killed near scene of US film massacre

AURORA, Colorado - The Associated Press

A gunman barricaded inside his Colorado home fired shots at police from a second-story window before he was killed as police officers stormed the home Jan. 5. Once inside, they found the bodies of three other adults, authorities said.

The suspect held officers at bay for nearly six hours after neighbors reported gunfire inside the modest townhome in the Denver suburb of Aurora, said police Sgt. Cassidee Carlson. It wasn’t known if officers shot the suspect or if he shot himself. Investigators said two men and a woman appeared to have been killed before officers arrived.

The shootings occurred about 6.4 kilometers southeast of the Aurora Mall, where 12 people were killed and dozens were wounded by a gunman, James Holmes at a midnight showing of the Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises,” on July 20, 2012.

A hostage-negotiation team called to the scene had sought to talk the suspect into surrendering before police moved to shoot tear gas into the home, prompting the gunman to open fire on officers from inside, police said.

He was killed when he fired at officers from window about 45 minutes later, Carlson said. “During this time he was all over the house. He moved furniture. He was throwing things. He was irrational.” A fifth person escaped unharmed and called police to report that she saw three people inside the home who “appeared lifeless,” said Carlson.