'Dark Knight' Victims To Be Honored At Colorado's Global Dance Festival
Twelve people are confirmed dead and another 59 injured after a [article id="1690065"]gunman entered a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises"[/article] in Aurora, Colorado, and opened fire early Friday (July 20). Police have taken [article id="1690070"]24-year-old James Holmes[/article] into custody in connection with the shooting.
The attack has stunned the nation and inspired an [article id="1690072"]outpouring of support[/article] for the stunned Colorado community. Among those issuing heartfelt statements grieving those lost and injured in the tragedy are Triad Dragons Entertainment and Swedish House Mafia member and veteran house-music DJ/producer Steve Angello, who is headlining Triad's Global Dance Festival in Morrison, Colorado, a half-hour drive from Aurora, at the picturesque Red Rocks Amphitheater.
The festival begins tonight, and according to a statement from Triad Dragons CEO Ha Hau, they will include a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragedy and their families.
"Our hearts go out to our friends and neighbors here in the Colorado community who are affected by this senseless act of violence. As a Colorado based company, this incident is especially personal and serves as an unwelcomed reminder that life is so very fragile," Hau said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been impacted by this tragedy. For the fans joining us tonight at Global Dance Festival, we will be observing a moment of silence at 8:30 to honor the victims and their families."
Global Dance Festival Colorado is the largest annual dance-music event held in the Rocky Mountains. The three-day festival, produced by Triad Dragons, features many of electronic music's biggest names and hottest up-and-coming acts. Among those set for the festival this year are Knife Party, Hardwell, Above & Beyond, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise, Felix Cartal, Wolfgang Gartner, Dillon Francis and Angello, who issued a statement to MTV News earlier dedicating his set to the memory of those lost in the shooting.
"I'd like to express my deepest condolences to the families of those affected by the horrible events in Aurora, Colorado. It's unfair that so many precious lives were lost in this tragedy and during a leisure activity that so many of us participate in every day," Angello said. "Tonight's performance at Global Dance Festival is dedicated to the memory of those we lost in Aurora, Colorado."
Fellow performer Wolfgang Gartner also sent his thoughts on the shooting to MTV News: "These types of tragedies are rarely ever understandable or easy to cope with. My deepest sympathies to everybody affected, to get through this and stay strong as families, friends and loved ones."
Another of the weekend's performers, 12th Planet, told MTV News, "I send my condolences to those affected by the shooting in Aurora last night. It disgusts me that these kind of things can still happen in America."
