Colorado Shooter Was Dressed as 'The Joker'

Only CBS New York seems to be carrying this aspect of the story at the moment, but, if true, it adds some chilling context to James Holmes’ rampage.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the gunman suspected of attacking a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado resembled Batman’s arch-villain “The Joker” at the time of the shocking attack.

“We have some information, most of it is public. It clearly looks like a deranged individual. He had his hair painted red, he said he was ‘The Joker,’ obviously the ‘enemy’ of Batman,” Kelly said about the suspect, 24-year-old James Holmes, at a news conference Friday.

Occupants of the apartment building where Holmes lived described him as a “recluse”:

In an apartment rental application he submitted early last year, Holmes described himself as a “quiet and easy-going” student. Other tenants in his building — which is reserved for students, faculty and staff of the medical campus — described him as a recluse.

A pharmacy student who also lives in the building told The Post he called 911 around 12:30 a.m. because there was a song blaring from the stereo inside apartment 10, where Holmes lived. The student, who wanted to be identified only as Ben, said he couldn’t make out the song but that it seemed to be playing on repeat.

He also said Holmes kept to himself and wouldn’t acknowledge people when they passed in the hall and said hello.

“No one knew him. No one,” Ben said.

The confirmed casualties are 12 dead and 59 injured with 12 of the shooting victims in critical condition. Several of the injured were suffering from exposure to some kind of noxious chemical, possibly tear gas.