Washington, July 20 (RHC)  US President Barack Obama declared a five-day official mourning after the shooting by a gunman in a movie theater in Denver, Colorado, resulted in some 12 people dead and several injured.

Addressing the people of Denver, Obama could not help starting his speech by recalling his current presidential campaign, as he said “let me first of all say how grateful I am for all of you being here and how much we appreciate everything that you've done. I know that there are a lot of people here, who have been so engaged in the campaign,” said Obama quoted by the StartTribune online.

Then he continued to address the facts: “by now many of you know, many of you have heard that a few miles outside of Denver, in a town called Aurora, at least 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater.”

A 24-year-old man was arrested as the author of the crime. James Holmes, who lives in Denver offered no resistance when arrested, according to police reports saying that Holmes used a rifle, two pistols and tear gas to cause the public’s panic inside the theater.

The tragedy is considered the worst of its kind in the southern US state since the killing occurred April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School, which resulted in 13 dead and 26 injured.

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