A gunman, shortly after midnight, walked into an Aurora, Colo., theater during the premiere of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” and opened fire.

Twelve people have been reported killed, and at least 50 wounded. A suspect, James Holmes, 24, is in custody.

Many Americans woke to the news and in addition to, or in lieu of, flipping on their TVs, turned to social media for the latest information. The chain of events unfolded in the early morning on Twitter from witnesses inside and outside the theater.

Take this chilling inside account:

Shots fired in the theater. #batman #aurora #colorado

— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012

@LustInLove Yes. It was my theater. I'm outside, one of my friends is still inside. No one knows what's going on.

— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012

Oh God, I don't know what to do.

— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012

They're putting us in a bus to a nearby high school now. #aurora #batman #shooting

— Caitlin (@dingos8myTARDIS) July 20, 2012

Video account

This video of the chaotic aftermath flooded the Web, giving the nation a firsthand account of the confusion:





A shocked nation

The public and politicians took to Twitter to offer prayers and express their condolences. Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) tweeted:

As a mom, I keep thinking,"My kids go to the movies all the time." Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, senseless tragedy in #Aurora, CO.

— D Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) July 20, 2012

Reporters offered immediate observations

National and local reporters tweeted the news as it unfolded. Local reporter Amanda Kost:

Just spoke w/ family in tears. Looking for son who went to midnight screening, hasn't answered calls. "He always answers"#TheaterShooting

— Amanda Kost, 7NEWS (@AmandaKost) July 20, 2012

PICTURE:#theatershootingHeartbreaking image from outside the theater: twitpic.com/a9oj7a

— Amanda Kost, 7NEWS (@AmandaKost) July 20, 2012

Grateful tweets

There were also those who tweeted their relief for narrowly escaping the shooting.

So greatful we didn't go to theater 9. Where Isaac & I had tickets for. We decided to go into 8 with our friends instead. #aurora #shooting

— Jaime Marshall (@JME817) July 20, 2012

So lucky. instagr.am/p/NTIm00iZcy/

— Jaime Marshall (@JME817) July 20, 2012

Have just evacuated our theater in Aurora. There was a shooting in our auditorium. I am safe

— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012

I know I saw one man with blood running down his hands being carried into a cop car

— Zach Eastman (@ZachEtake38) July 20, 2012

#Aurora #theatershooting #Batman were trending on Twitter at the time of this report.

Roula Amire is managing editor of Ragan.com.