Colorado Batman Shooting Prompts Tougher Security at Ronnie's Theater

St. Louis County Police are beefing up security at Ronnie's 20 Cinema after a man gunned down 12 people at the première of "The Dark Knight Rises" near Denver, CO.

At approximately 1 a.m. Friday, a man wearing a gas mask entered the theater during the midnight showing of the newest Batman movie, hurled a gas canister and then began shooting, the Associated Press reported. 

At least 50 are injured and 12 have been confirmed dead. 

Police took 24-year old James Holmes into custody for the shooting early Friday morning. No motive has been released. 

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"We are talking to Ronnie’s Plaza and trying to analyze that situation out there to figure out what happened and why and how that was able to happen," said Capt. Mike Dierkes with the St. Louis County Police Affton Precinct. 

The captain said the movie theater will have extra patrol and monitor exterior doors. 

St. Louis County Police Chief Col. Tim Fitch instructed all precinct captains to work with movie theaters across the county to keep patrons safe. 

Kelly Hoskins, VP of Wehrenberg theaters, said the only change movie-goers will see in the theater is the added visibility of managers and staff. 

"We already have a very extensive security plan in place that we've had for years at Ronnie's," she said, adding the theater employs several uniformed and ununiformed police officers.

"We feel really comfortable that we are very solid in security," Hoskins said.   

Managers also go through extensive panic button training and check auditoriums on routine basis.

The long-anticipated Batman movie is the third starring Christian Bale as the masked hero. It is directed by Christopher Nolan and produced by Warner Brothers Studios. 

The incident has prompted officials to cancel the midnight premiere in Paris.