In one of the most infamous crimes of the last decade, James Holmes shot 71 moviegoers at the cinema during the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. The deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre, the incident led to a sizeable political debate on gun control. The shooting took place on July 20, 2012, when Holmes left his seat in the front row of the screening around 20 minutes into the film. He left the building, then returned ten minutes later through an exit door wearing a gas mask, load-bearing vest, helmet and assault vest. Initially, many in the audience thought it was a prank or publicity stunt, as there were several people in the theatre dressed up in costume. Holmes threw two gas canisters into the audience, before firing directly at the audience with a shotgun, semi-automatic rifle and handgun. As a result of the attack, 12 people died and 70 others were seriously injured. Holmes was apprehended by police at the scene, and when questioned he allegedly told officers he was the Joker. Have you seen any other Joker-inspired crimes in the news? Are there any that could have been listed here? Let us know in the comments below.
