'Dark Knight' Showings Still on in West Des Moines After Shootings in Colorado Theater

The much-hailed premiere of the final installment in the Batman movie series was  met with tragedy last night after a gunman opened fire in a packed Colorado theater killing 12 people and wounding dozens of others.

The incident took place at a midnight showing of the new Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises" at the Century 16 theater in Aurora, Colorado.

Aurora's Century 16 is owned by Cinemark Theatres, the same movie theater chain that operates the Century 20 at the Jordan Creek Town Center.

The chain released a statement Friday saying: "Cinemark is deeply saddened about this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and loved ones, our employees, and the Aurora community. We are grateful for the quick and professional reaction of all local law enforcement and emergency responders. Cinemark is working closely with the Aurora Police Department and local law enforcement."

The theater has cancelled all upcoming movie showtimes at the Aurora theater according to Fandango.com.

At the Century 20 at Jordan Creek, all 21 showings of "The Dark Knight Rises" are playing as scheduled.

“Right now, we’re doing everything like very other day,” said Mirza Alibasit, an employee of the complex. “Everything’s normal.”

Alibasit said theater management hadn’t yet made a call on whether to cancel any of the back-to-back showings of the movie, the final in the Batman trilogy.