4 dead in Colorado after negotiations fail in hostage standoff

Los Angeles, Jan 5 (IANS) A gunman was shot by police and three others were found dead Saturday morning inside a home in Colorado’s Aurora town, after negotiation failed during a hostage situation, reported Xinhua citing local media.

Police entered the house at about 9 a.m. local time (6 p.m GMT/11.30 p.m.IST) and killed the suspected gunman, during exchange of fire after hours of failed negotiations, the local media reported.

Several nearby homes were evacuated at around 3 a.m. local time (12 p.m. GMT) for safety reasons.

One person inside the barricade home was able to escape by jumping out a second-story window and alerted authorities.

The motivation of the suspect is under investigation, police said.

Local media report said the gunman shot dead three people, but whether the gunman was shot dead by police or he killed himself remain unclear so far.

A mass shooting in one of Aurora’s theatres killed 12 people and injured 58 others on July 20, 2012. The sole suspect, James Eagan Holmes, was charged with 24 counts of first degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder. He will return to court Monday for a hearing.

IANS 2013-01-05 23:40:05