Washington:
When a gunman opened fire at a cinema hall in Denver, it sounded like firecrackers, said a witness who added that someone later yelled "they're shooting out here".
At least 12 people were killed and 50 injured on Friday in Denver at a cinema hall showing the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises".
The gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire and set off a type of smoke or tear gas bomb at the Century Theater in Aurora Mall outside Denver, reported Xinhua citing KUSA-TV.
Bejamin Fernandez, a witness, said he was watching the film when he heard a string of blasts. He said that people ran and there were gunshots as police shouted "Get down!"
He saw people falling, reported denverpost.com.
Salina Jordan, a 19-year-old, saw people hit.
She said one girl was struck on her cheek and others in the stomach.
It sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into Theater 8 yelling "they're shooting out here!", said Jordan.
The police rushed in, telling people to run out, she added.