Police scanner: Dramatic first minutes of Aurora, Colorado shooting

DENVER - Dramatic emergency radio traffic recounts the hectic first minutes of the Aurora theater shooting as police descended on the scene.

The first sign of trouble was reported at 12:39 a.m.

Dispatch: "315 and 314 for a shooting at Century Theaters, 14300 East Alameda Avenue. They are saying somebody is shooting inside the auditorium."

Dispatch: "They're saying Theater 9, where Batman was playing."

Dispatch: "There is at least one person that's been shot, but they're saying there's hundreds of people just running around."

The first officer arrives on the scene within minutes.

Officer: "453, I have a party shot here. I need rescue hot." Officer: "We've got another person outside shot in the leg, a female. I've got people running out of the theater, they're shot." Dispatch: "We'll let rescue know. They'll start more people. Officer: "Another victim, on the north side of the parking lot."

Two minutes later, officers try to make their way into Theater 9 but notice heavy smoke coming from that room.

Officer: "316, Somebody is spraying gas in here too."

Then, multiple officers request gas masks so they can enter the theater.

12:45 am

Officer: "Do we have gas masks available? Officer: "Any units that can bring gas masks to Theater 9, again we need gas masks." Officer : "Get us some damn gas masks to theater 9, we can't get in it." Officer: "From what I can smell it's OC (pepper spray)"

Two minutes later -- at 12:47 a.m., officers start to make their into the theater.

Officer: "We need rescue inside the auditorium, we have multiple victims." Officer: "I've got seven down in Theater 9, seven down!" Officer: "I've got a child victim. I need rescue at the back door of Theater 9 now."

At the same time, police are tracking down the suspected shooter.

12:45 am

Officer: "I need a marked car behind the theater, Sable side. I've got a suspect in a gas mask."

Police move in less than a minute later.

12:46 am

Officer: "The white car in the rear of the lot, is that a suspect? Officer: Yes, we've got rifles, gas masks. He's detained right now. I've got an open door going into the theater. Officer: "Ok hold that position, hold your suspect." Officer: "Set up a perimeter around the entire mall. Set up a perimeter around the entire mall. All cars do not need to go to the movie theater.

As some officers zero in on the suspect, others scramble to save lives.

12:48 am

Officer: "Bring all the victims that have been shot to the north side of the theater." Officer: "We need rescue inside the theater. Multiple victims." Officer: "210, I've got one on the east side immobile. I can't get to rescue. Shot twice in the back." Officer: "I need rescue to stage in the Dillard's lot. I need as many ambulances as we can to the Dillards' lot."

Police start to handle the injured.

12:48 am

Officer: "I want my fire trucks there also and I'll start bringing them in to triage people and get them out." Officer: "I'm taking one male to the hospital in my car." Officer: "Get me some officers in Theater 9 so we can get the movable victims out." Officer: "Start me Denver cars (police) this way too. I need more help." Officer: "I've got a child victim. I need rescue at the back door of Theater 9 now."

Three minutes later, police ask where the ambulances are.

12:51 am

Officer: "I've got one ambulance here. Where are my ambulances at? Officer: (open mike) Moaning, crying heard. Disptach: "Ambulances are staging at the northwest corner of the theater." Police use their cars as ambulances to ferry the wounded to hospitals.

Officer: "Cruiser 10, I need a medical crew inside. I've got one victim eviscerated."

12:54 am

Officer: "Do I have permission to start taking some of these victims via car? I've got a whole bunch of people shot out here and no rescue." Officer: Yes load 'em up and get 'em in cars and get them out of here." Officer: "15 dispatch, we're going to evacuate all that we can out of nine to the east side."