Witnesses say the shooter came in through the exit door at the front of the theater wearing all black, including a gas mask and bullet proof vest, and threw two tear gas canisters into the crowd.

When, they started coughing, he opened fire:

At least 14 people were killed and 50 wounded when a gunman opened fire during an early Friday morning screening of the new Batman movie at an Aurora, Colorado, theater, Police Chief Dan Oates told reporters.

The heavily armed suspect, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was apprehended by police in a rear parking lot of the theater, Frank Fania, a police spokesman, told CNN. The suspect was not immediately identified, though Fania said he was believed to be in his early 20s.

“He did not resist. He did not put up a fight,” Fania said. Police seized a rifle and a handgun from the suspect, and another gun was found in the theater, he said.

The youngest victim was six years old.

As I wrote on Twitter:

Understand this: the man who shot children in Aurora wasn’t crazy. He hid afterwards. Crazy doesn’t hide. This man is evil.

— Duane Lester (@Bodhi1) July 20, 2012

Update:

KUSA in Colorado says 12 are dead, not 14, but the number is fluid.

Update 2:

Shooter identified as James Holmes. His mother was not surprised:

A San Diego woman identifying herself as James Holmes’s mother spoke briefly with ABC News this morning.

She had awoken unaware of the news of the shooting and had not been contacted by authorities. She immediately expressed concern that her son may have been involved.

“You have the right person,” she said. “I need to call the police,” she added. “I need to fly out to Colorado.”

Update 3:

The 911 calls: