The suspect in a deadly shooting spree early today inside an Aurora, Colo., movie theater has identified himself as “The Joker,” according to some media reports, although Aurora authorities refused to comment on the claim, the Denver Post reports.

A number of media outlets are quoting New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who said: "We have some information, most of it is public. It clearly looks like a deranged individual. He had his hair painted red, he said he was ‘The Joker,’ obviously the ‘enemy’ of Batman."

Update at 2:26 PM PT: CNN has now confirmed Commissioner Kelly’s information with "a federal law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation."

The suspect, James Holmes, allegedly went on a shooting spree during a screening of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” as reported previously.

According to an L.A. Times report of a midday press conference in Aurora, "The gunman…had an assault rifle, a shotgun and two Glock pistols, state and local officials said….He wore a tactical armored vest, throat protector, groin protector, a gas mask and a ballistic helmet."  

Witnesses to the attack said the shooter was dressed in all black.