PHOENIX, Arizona, July 20. JUST a few hours after news broke of a man opening fire on a crowd watching a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colo., Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin and Olympic coach Todd Schmitz went to Twitter to express their thoughts on the deaths of at least 12 in their hometown.
“Praying for everyone hurt and affected by the theater shooting in Aurora,” Franklin wrote on her Twitter page (@FranklinMissy) around 4 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time from the Olympic team's training camp in Vichy, France. “I'm in total disbelief and shock. Things happen so quickly. #pray”
About an hour later, Schmitz posted on his Twitter page (@starstodd): “My thoughts are with everyone back in my home of Aurora Colorado. #theatershooting”
The shooter has been identified as James Holmes, a 24-year-old man who was arrested by police in a parking lot behind the theater not long after he unleashed a barrage of bullets into the unsuspecting crowd around 12:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.
Franklin is a swimmer on the Colorado Stars team based in Aurora, while Schmitz is the head coach. Since names of the victims have not yet been released, it is not known if Franklin or Schmitz have a personal connection to anyone involved in the tragedy.
Other American Olympians also posted reactions on Twitter.
Ryan Lochte (@ryanlochte): “I'm so sorry to hear of the tragedy in Colorado. My prayers are with the families & friends of the victims.”
Jessica Hardy (@swimhardy): “Sending strength to those affected in Aurora, CO.-Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.-Helen Keller”
USA Swimming (@USA_Swimming) also released a tweet of its own: “Our thoughts are with everyone in Colorado after this senseless and horrible tragedy… #Aurora”