The residents of Colorado, still reeling after loosing 12 of their own in a massacre at the Century 16 theatre in Aurora last week, will now see the sole suspected shooter, James Holmes, appear in court for the first time to face charges of suspicion of first-degree murder, as reported by the Huffington Post and several other news media.
According to authorities, during the midnight premiere of "The Dark Night" on July 20, 2012, three dozen people were shot, 58 were wounded, some remain in critical condition and 12 died.
Authorities have also disclosed that Holmes has refused to cooperate. The investigation, therefore, may take several months to conclude.
Holmes was originally assigned a public defender but has since "lawyered up" according to Aurora Police Chief Dan Oats. Oats added that former doctoral student Holmes, 24, is "not talking to us."
Holmes, while held without bail, is also facing charges of aggravated assault and
weapons violations.
Officials from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are examining the possibility that Holmes used his position at the school to obtain hazardous materials. Police have already determined that Holmes purchased guns over a two-month period in Denver stores and collected approximately 50 packages that he had arranged to be delivered to his home and the school.
In trying to learn more about Holmes, investigators found that he had left the 35-student neuroscience Ph.D. program in June after one year. According to the university, Holmes gave no reason for leaving the school.
On July 22 many residents of Aurora attended vigils. President Barack Obama also arrived and visited with families of the victims at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. President Obama told them "all of America and much of the world is thinking about them."
The owner of a gun range, where a membership pended for Holmes, found his behavior "bizarre." The man said that Holmes emailed in his application to join the Lead Valley Range on June 25. When the man telephoned Holmes he found that Holmes' outgoing voice mail message was "guttural, freakish at best" and warned his staff to watch out for him during orientation.
The man also told his staff no to accept Holmes' membership into the club.
Another person that knew Holmes for over ten years, R.D., told reporters that Holmes enjoyed playing cards, video games, and that the two watched the TV show "Lost" together while attending UC Riverside. R.D. last saw Holmes in December, and noted nothing amiss in his friend's behavior.
As far as Holmes' schoolwork, R.D. said, "I had one college class with him, and he didn't even have to take notes or anything. He would just show up to class, sit there, and around test time he would always get an A."
Holmes' family pastor, J.B., who last spoke with him approximately six years ago, recollected, "…He had some goals. He wanted to succeed, he wanted to go out, and he wanted to be the best. He took pride in his academic abilities. A good student. He didn't brag about it."
Oats said that Holmes began by setting off gas canisters in the darkened theatre, and then attacked with a semiautomatic rifle, a shotgun and a pistol.
Whether or not you are facing single or multiple criminal charges of your own, a criminal case requires that you contact a criminal defense attorney to receive the best defense possible.
