President Obama met families of victims of the Colorado gun massacre and told them: “The entire country is with you in prayer.”
The President travelled to Denver to speak to relatives of the 12 people shot dead by James Holmes during Friday’s midnight screening of Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.
Hundreds gathered to hear Mr Obama’s emotional speech outside the hospital in the suburb of Aurora where a further 58 people were treated for gunshot wounds. He said: “I come to them not so much as President as I do as a father and as a husband. I confessed to them that words are always inadequate. I hope that all those in attendance understand that the entire country will be there in prayer and reflection today.”
Mr Obama met Jordan Ghawi, the brother of aspiring television presenter Jessica Ghawi, who was one of those killed. Mr Ghawi tweeted: “Sat down with President Obama. He has been incredible.” Mr Obama offered a
dramatic glimpse of the horror inside the Century cinema. With two fingers pressed to his neck, he recalled how one woman saved a friend who was shot by keeping pressure on a vein that had “started spurting blood” and later carried her to safety.
He added: “Out of this darkness, a brighter day is going to come. The reason stories like this have such an impact on us is because we could all understand what it would be to have somebody we love taken from us in this fashion.” Anne Hathaway, who plays Catwoman in the film, said: “My heart aches and breaks for the lives taken and altered by this unfathomable senseless act.”
PhD student Holmes, 24, is being held in isolation at the Arapahoe county jail. He was scheduled for a first court appearance today. Officers said they found a Batman mask at his flat after they cleared it of booby traps.
The Dark Knight Rises is set to earn £100 million in its opening weekend in the US — a record for a non-3D film.
