On July 20 , 2012 , Aurora was the site of the third largest mass shooting in terms of number of casualties in United States history at the time , now the eighteenth largest , and the second-deadliest shooting in Colorado after the 1999 Columbine High School massacre . The shooting occurred just after midnight , when James Eagan Holmes opened fire during the midnight premiere of '' The Dark Knight Rises '' in a Century movie theater , killing 12 people and injuring 70 others . Holmes was arrested within 2 minutes of the incident , and was sentenced to 12 life sentences in prison with an additional required 3,318 years . The shooting drew an international response from world leaders . U.S. President Barack Obama visited victims , as well as local and state officials , and addressed the nation in a televised address from Aurora on July 22 . Actor Christian Bale , who plays Batman in the film , also visited some victims in hospitals . The events marked a turning point in recognition and public perception of the city ; rather than referring to the site as being in " Denver " or " suburban Denver " , as would have been typical before the event , virtually all media accounts of the incident unequivocally named " Aurora " as its location
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
Aurora, Colorado