TikTok teen star shot dead at US cinema

TikTok star Anthony Barajas has died after being shot at a California movie theater in what authorities described as a "random and unprovoked" attack.

Barajas, 19, died Saturday after the shooting that also killed his 18-year-old friend Rylee Goodrich, said police in Corona in southern California said.

The victims were shot Monday at a theater that was showing "The Forever Purge," about a totalitarian government that one night a year allows any crime to be committed, including murder.

Theater staff found the two shot in the head after the movie, which was sparsely attended. Goodrich died at the scene and Barajas was rushed to a hospital. 

"Based on the evidence provided to our office, this appears to be a random and unprovoked attack," local prosecutors said in a statement Friday. 

Joseph Jimenez, 20, has been charged in the shooting. Police acting on tips from witnesses arrested him at his home the day after the assault.

Police have said he apparently acted alone and did not know the victims.

Barajas had nearly 930,000 followers on TikTok and was a reportedly a standout soccer player in high school.

The United States has a long and painful history of deadly gun violence, in the form of a steady daily toll of shootings as well as high-profile mass killings that have targeted schools, workplaces and shopping centers. 

In 2012, a heavily armed man killed 12 people in a cinema in Aurora, Colorado, during the screening of the movie "The Dark Knight Rises".

Agence France-Presse

Jessica Ghawi's Brother Blogs Her Chilling Final Moments

Jordan Ghawi received one of the most horrific phone calls imaginable early Friday morning.

His mother, "hysterical and almost unintelligible," phoned with news that his sister, 24-year-old Jessica Ghawi, had been shot at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo., Jordan blogged Friday.

Twelve people were killed and 59 more injured by alleged gunman James Holmes, who reportedly later called himself The Joker.


Jordan, 26, a student, firefighter and paramedic in Texas, traveled to Colorado on Friday morning and wrote in detail about his sister's final moments, as told to him by their mutual friend Brent.

"Jessica and Brent were seated in the middle portion of the theatre when a device was thrown into the theatre that produced a 'hissing' sound," Jordan wrote. "The theatre then began to fill with smoke which is when patrons began to move from their seats. At that time, shots were fired."

He continued in chilling detail.



Brent and Jessica dropped for cover. "Brent then heard Jessica scream and noticed that she was struck by a round in the leg," Jordan wrote. "Brent, began holding pressure on the wound and attempted to calm Jessica."

"It was at this time that Brent took a round to his lower extremities. While still administering first aid, Brent noticed that Jessica was no longer screaming. He advised that he looked over to Jessica and saw what appeared to be an entry wound to her head."

Jordan later wrote that he received word from the coroner's office that his sister indeed died from injuries sustained during the shooting.

"Let us remember the names of the victims and not the name of the coward who committed this act," Jordan Tweeted Friday afternoon.

A total of 71 moviegoers were shot at the Century 16 Theater at the Town Center Mall in Aurora.

source: people.com

Colorado shooting: 'Dark Knight' plays with tight security, undercover cops

Amid tightened security, "The Dark Knight Rises" screened at movie theaters across Southern California on Friday without major incident.

Police were out in force both inside and outside theaters in the wake of the shooting in Colorado that left 12 people dead.

Officials said they were concerned about possible copycats as well as troublemakers who might use the fears sparked by the shooting to cause mayhem at theaters.

The Los Angeles Police Department, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and smaller law enforcement agencies plan extra patrols through the weekend and beyond at theaters.

Theaters also tightened security. At the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live in downtown, ushers checked the purses of some patrons before they entered the show.

“I am outraged by the cowardly attack on innocent movie patrons in Colorado last night," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those innocent victims. Since Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, it is important that we all remain vigilant and do everything we can to prevent incidents like this from occurring in our communities. Remember, if you see something, say something.”

Long Beach police will also be on alert.

"Although it does appear to be an isolated incident, we are always concerned a violent act of this scale could occur at a place where the public gathers. We hope a tragedy like this never takes place in our community, but we continuously train and are prepared to respond should this type of situation ever arise," said Patrol Deputy Chief Robert Luna.

The San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department have both instructed beat officers to make extra patrols near theaters showing “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Deputies have had “active-shooter” training, some as recently as this week, on how to respond to calls about a shooter stalking a crowded space such as a school, mall or theater, said sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell.

San Diego police officers have been encouraged “to make contact with the theater management to be aware of what is going on and [tell managers] to call if they notice suspicious behavior or have problems,” said department spokesman Lt. Andra Brown.

In Aurora, Colo., where the shootings occurred, Mayor Steve Hogan told reporters, “We’ve taken a blow today, but we’ll get back on our feet.”

Ten people died in the theater, two at hospitals. Fifty-nine were wounded, said Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates, adding that “many” were in critical condition.

Some of the injured were children, taken by adults to see a movie starring a comic book hero. At University Hospital, spokesman Chris Casey said, 23 people were treated, ranging in age from 3 months to 45 years.

source: latimes.com