“As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family,” Obama said following the early morning shooting.

(HR)In the wake of the nightmare shooting at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater screening of The Dark Knight Rises that left at least 12 dead and 38 injured, both major party candidates for president have released somber statements pledging support for the victims.

Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.

Mitt Romney:

Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence that took the lives of 15 people in Colorado and injured dozens more. We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice.

The film, the final chapter in director Christopher Nolan‘s Batman saga, has become the center of fierce political debate this past week. Radio host Rush Limbaugh insinuated that the villain’s name, Bane, was an attack on Romney’s former venture capital firm, Bain; while others debated the ideological leanings of its characters and its populism-versus-anarchy undertones.

There are no signs that this shooting, suspected to be the work of one 24-year old male, is political in nature. There have also been death threats against critics that have given the film a negative review.

Meanwhile, a cell phone video of the aftermath, including people panicking in the theater, has emerged on YouTube; you can see it below.