`The Dark Knight Rises` director condemns Colorado massacre

Los Angeles: `The Dark Knight Rises` director Christopher Nolan says he is devastated by the killing of 12 moviegoers by a masked gunman in a Colorado theatre during the midnight screening of the Batman film.

The 41-year-old director called the shooting, which injured 59 people, "savage" and said that he didn`t know what to say to express his devastation, reported Ace Showbiz. "Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of `The Dark Knight Rises`, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community," Nolan said in a statement. "I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime," he said. "The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families," he added. James Holmes, 24, was identified as the gunman who opened fired on the audience in the midnight massacre. The Aurora Police Department said that the former medical student from University of Colorado was in possession of an AR-15, a Remington 870 shotgun and a 40 caliber glock handgun when he was arrested. PTI