KINGS POINT — Professor Gregory F. Sullivan, an instructor at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, has been suspended for making a joke about the Colorado movie theater shooting in front of his students, according to reports. Humanities instructor Sullivan is believed to have said, “If someone with orange hair appears in the corner of the room, run for the exit.” The situation was made worse as Sullivan’s classroom included a student whose father had been killed in the shootings. Sullivan reportedly said that he did not know about the student’s loss.

James Holmes, who is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 58 others in last month’s shootings, had dyed his hair bright orange.