General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCould have been even worse: Assault rifle jammed in Colo. attack
AURORA, Colo.The semiautomatic assault rifle used by the gunman in a mass shooting at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie jammed during the attack, a federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press, which forced the shooter to switch to another gun with less fire power.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to in order to discuss the investigation, said the disabled weapon had a high-capacity ammunition magazine. Police have said that a 100-round drum magazine was recovered at the scene and that such a device would be able to fire 50 to 60 rounds a minute.
That account of what happened inside the Century 16 theater emerged with other details of a suspect described as a budding scientist, brimming with potential, who pursued a graduate program even as he planned the attack with "calculation and deliberation," police said Saturday.
James Holmes, 24, received shipments that authorities believe armed him for battle and were used to booby trap his home with dozens of bombs.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/07/22/police_colo_suspect_planned_massacre_for_months/
valerief
(53,235 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)The snail drum magazines are well known for that. No military or police agency uses them for that reason.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)One reason why I've been saying people are getting too worked up over the drum magazine. It, the "assault" rifle, the body armor... it was all part of a costume, for effect. Guy would have been just as deadly with the glock , and wearing a T-shirt and flip flops.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)I use it as a teaching aid of dumb things not to have or use. It has never functioned properly. Picked it up for next to nothing from the original purchaser who paid retail for it.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)with all the body armor, it wouldn't have made a difference. And was the smoke grenade or whatever it was, was that part of a costume?
obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)An extension of his effed up scenario, as are the booby traps in his apartment.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)someone just yesterday said they can't be called booby traps because they were seen from the window by the police... so that makes them NOT booby traps but just traps I guess.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)The front door was rigged, therefore it was a booby trap. My though is he intended that someone would enter and set off an explosion meant to be a diversion from the theatre shooting.
obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Was probably for a combination of effect and to cause confusion.
Im not a psychologist, or anything similar, but it appears to me the guy was acting out a fantasy role as the ultimate villian.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)...that if the gun hadn't jammed, he'd be dead.