Posted Saturday, July 21, 2012 --- 6:00 a.m.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.

1. COLORADO SHOOTINGS

Movie massacre: Shock, sadness, a search for clues

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — A Denver suburb rocked by a deadly theater massacre is trying to cope with the shock and sadness today as police search for a motive and a safe way to enter the suspect's apparently booby-trapped apartment.

Late last night, police grimly went door to door notifying families of the 12 victims killed in the worst mass shooting in the U.S. in recent years. Another 58 people were injured either by gunfire or amid the chaos of people trying to flee the theater in Aurora, Colo.

The suspect's stellar academic record, apparent shy demeanor and lack of a criminal background is making the attack even more difficult to fathom.

The new Batman movie, the last in the trilogy starring Christian Bale, opened worldwide yesterday with midnight showings in the U.S.

2. COLORADO SHOOTINGS-APARTMENT

Police: Colo. shooting suspect booby-trapped apartment

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Police are moving cautiously as they prepare an attempt today to enter the booby-trapped apartment of the suspect in the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre that killed 12 people and injured 58.

Firefighters are monitoring the apartment building for gases in an effort to determine what chemicals they say 24-year-old James Holmes might have used to booby-trap the place — in case the materials go off.

Police evacuated the building and surrounding residences after arresting Holmes as the suspect in a mass shooting Friday at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises."

FBI agents and police discovered it was booby-trapped when they used a camera at the end of a 12-foot pole to look inside.

Photos of Holmes' apartment appeared to show trip wires, jars full of ammunition and liquid and other items unlike. Aurora's police chief says he's never seen anything like it.

3. US-COLORADO-SHOOTINGS-WEAPONS

Authorities: Suspect bought guns in last 2 months

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say the four weapons recovered in a mass shooting at a movie theater were purchased by the suspect from retail gun stores in Colorado in the last two months.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said nearly 7,000 rounds and multiple magazines for those weapons also were purchased online. He said all of the weapons and ammunition were possessed legally.

A federal law enforcement officer said suspect James Holmes bought a Glock pistol on May 22 at Gander Mountain in Aurora. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe into the shootings is ongoing.

Gander Mountain said it is "fully cooperating" with the investigation.

A Missouri online seller of tactical police gear told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it sold more than $300 of equipment to Holmes on July 2.

4. OBAMA-GOP

NEW: Colo. shootings dominate weekly messages

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and the Republicans are using their weekly media messages to try to console those grief-stricken over the Colorado theater massacre the killed 12 people and injured 58.

Obama says he hopes everyone takes time this weekend "for prayer and reflection — for the victims of this terrible tragedy, for the people who knew them and loved them, for those who are still struggling to recover."

The president says Americans should also think about "all the victims of the less publicized acts of violence that plague our communities on a daily basis."

For the Republicans, House Speaker John Boehner says lawmakers join Obama in offering condolences and prayers to the loved ones of those who were killed and wounded.

He says America can pull together "when confronted with evil we cannot comprehend."

5. HOMELESS STABBINGS

Person of interest detained in homeless stabbings

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police say they have detained a person of interest in the stabbings of three homeless people in recent weeks.

Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith says Courtney Anthony Robinson was taken into custody in the Hollywood area late Friday and is being questioned by detectives. Police have called him only a "person of interest" in the case.

They described him as a possibly homeless man from Santa Barbara who also goes by David Ben Keyes, a name written on notes left at the stabbing scenes labeled "death warrants."

One victim in Santa Monica and two in Los Angeles were stabbed in the back as they slept. All three survived.

6. CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Obama effort spends more in June than it takes in

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid a heavy barrage of advertising by opposing "super" political groups, President Barack Obama's re-election campaign spent more than it collected in June.

While outraised again by Republican Mitt Romney, Obama ended the month with a hefty $97.5 million in the bank.

Finance reports filed Friday show June as the second consecutive month in which Romney brought in more money than Obama.

Obama tried to answer the super PACs supporting Romney by spending $38.2 million on television advertising. Romney spent less than a third of that — $10.4 million — on TV time.

Romney's campaign nearly doubled its spending in June compared with the previous month.

Romney raised $106 million with the help of the GOP. Much of that came from larger donations in a handful of battleground states.

7. AIR FORCE-SEX SCANDAL

Air Force instructor faces sentencing for rape

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — An Air Force instructor could be sentenced to up to life in prison following his conviction on charges of raping a female recruit and sexually assaulting several others.

Staff Sgt. Luis Walker is to be sentenced today during his court-martial at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, one of the nation's busiest training bases. A military jury convicted him Friday on all 28 counts he faced, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Prosecutors say from October 2010 through January 2011, Walker sexually assaulted or had improper sexual or personal contact with at least 10 female recruits. Lackland is where all Air Force recruits go through basic training.

Walker is among 12 Lackland instructors investigated for sexual misconduct toward female trainees. Six were charged.

8. TONY ROBBINS-FIRE WALK

At least 21 treated for burns after Robbins event

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Fire officials in California say at least 21 people were treated for burns after attendees of an event for motivational speaker Tony Robbins tried to walk on hot coals.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that at least three people went to a hospital and most suffered second- or third-degree burns.

Robbins was hosting a 4-day gathering called "Unleash the Power Within" at the San Jose Convention Center. Witnesses say on Thursday, a crowd went to a park where 12 lanes of hot coals were on the grass.

Robbins' website promotes "The Firewalk Experience" in which people walk on super-heated coals.

Witness Jonathan Correll says he heard "screams of agony."

Fire Capt. Reggie Williams says organizers had an open fire permit and emergency personnel were on standby.

9. SYRIA

Activists report heavy fighting in Syria's Aleppo

BEIRUT (AP) — Activists and opposition groups say Syrian troops and rebels have clashed for a second day in the northern city of Aleppo.

They say the overnight clashes with heavy machine guns were some of the fiercest to date in the heart of Syria's northern commercial hub.

Aleppo has been largely shielded from the violence that has plagued other Syrian cities over the course of the uprising against President Bashar Assad, now in its 17th month.

Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said dozens of rebels from the Free Syrian Army were now in the city. He said fighting was mostly in the Salaheddine district in the city center.

The Local Coordination Committees activist network and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday's fighting forced many residents to flee to safer areas.

10. PAKISTAN

Pakistan: Bomber attacks militant compound, 9 dead

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Police say a suicide bomber attacked a militant commander's compound in northwest Pakistan, killing at least nine people, including three children.

Amjad Khan, a senior tribal police official, says the compound attacked Saturday in Spin Dal village in the Orakzai tribal area was owned by militant commander Mullah Nabi.

It's unclear who carried out the attack.

Nabi is a rival to another prominent commander, Mullah Toofan, who is allied with the Pakistani Taliban.

Khan said the bomber tried to enter the guest quarters in Nabi's compound and detonated his explosives when he was challenged by guards outside.

Sabar Gul, another tribal police official, said three children were among the nine dead and 15 people were wounded.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.