aurora theater shooter lawyer what it's like

by Mr. Doris Rippin 7 min read

Was Aurora theater shooting trial adjourned for day?

"Aurora theater shooting trial adjourns for day". KUSA 9 News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015. Daniel King said during opening statements Monday that Holmes was a normal child through elementary school but began to have mental health problems in middle school.

What happened to Aurora theater shooter James Holmes?

"Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes to be sentenced to life in prison". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015. ^ O'Neill, Ann (August 27, 2015).

What happened to the Colorado theater shooter?

What is believed to be the suspect's car is examined after the shooting. The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion.

How did the University of California respond to the Aurora shooting?

Regents of the University of California (1976) to the facts of the Aurora shooting. A grassroots community center, Aurora Strong Resilience Center, was established by community leaders, elected officials, and mental health professionals, as a response to the shooting.

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Who is the man who killed eight men?

The capital murder trial of James Eagan Holmes has, for more than a week, been taking a jury inside the “broken” mind of a young man who really didn’t like other people. Prosecutors say Holmes should pay with his life for the killings of eight men, three women and a little girl at a Colorado movie theater nearly three years ago.

When did James Holmes appear in court?

The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion.

Who killed 12 people?

James Holmes is accused of killing 12, wounding 70 at a movie theater in July 2012. Holmes said he knew killing was wrong but needed "points" from each slain victim. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; expert says he was rational. Centennial, Colorado CNN —.

How many people were killed in the Aurora movie theater shooting?

James Holmes sentenced to life in prison. CNN —. Here is a look at the July 20, 2012, movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Twelve people were killed and 70 injured.

What theater was the Batman movie shooting in?

Colorado Theater Shooting Fast Facts. Police block entry into the Aurora Century 16 theater after James Holmes opened fire at a movie theater on July 20, 2012, as the midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie was showing. Holmes killed 12 and wounded dozens more in the Aurora, Colorado, theater.

What gun did the man in the movie shoot?

After both canisters explode, witnesses say he started shooting, first at the ceiling and then at the crowd. Police say he used an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and at least one of two .40-caliber handguns police recovered at the scene.

When is James Holmes' trial?

He was arrested and charged with 152 felonies, including murder and weapons offenses. His trial is expected to take place in 2014. CENTENNIAL, CO - JULY 23: Accused movie theater shooter James Holmes makes his first court appearance at the Arapahoe County on July 23, 2012 in Centennial, Colorado.

When did James Holmes appear in court?

The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion.

Who was the man who killed 12 people in Aurora?

James Eagan Holmes (born December 13, 1987) is an American mass murderer responsible for the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting in which he killed 12 people and injured 70 others (62 directly and eight indirectly) at a Century 16 movie theater on July 20, 2012. He had no known criminal background before the shooting occurred.

Why did Holmes' lawyers delay the trial?

Holmes' lawyers filed an emergency motion on November 14 to delay a pre-trial hearing, citing an unspecified condition that has left him unable to appear in court: "As a result of developments over the past 24 hours, Mr. Holmes is in a condition that renders him unable to be present in court for tomorrow's hearing.".

How long did the jury selection process last?

The juror selection process lasted three months and summoned 9,000 candidates, making it the largest jury summons in U.S. history.

Who appointed the Colorado State Public Defender for Holmes' defense?

The judge appointed the Colorado State Public Defender for Holmes' defense. Holmes said nothing and never looked at the judge. His appearance and behavior, which was described as "dazed" and "confused" fueled speculation about his mental state.

What was the verdict for Holmes?

On July 16, after deliberating for over twelve hours, the jurors found Holmes guilty on all twenty-four counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possessing explosives, and a sentence enhancement of a crime of violence. They began deciding his sentence on July 22. The court expected the sentencing phase to last for one month. Holmes declined to make an allocution statement. On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. However, the jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire.

Where was the shooting at the Century 16 theater?

The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres ), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. Police said that Holmes bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row.

How did the Colorado shooting affect gun sales?

Colorado gun sales spiked after the shooting, with the number of background checks for people seeking to purchase a firearm in the state increasing to 2,887, up 43% from the previous week. Gun sales in Washington, Florida, California, and Georgia also increased. The shooting reignited the political debate on gun control, with one issue being the "easy access" Holmes had to semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, which were banned federally from 1994 to 2004. The results of a survey released on July 30, 2012, by the Pew Research Center suggested the incident did not change Americans' views on the issue.

What is Aurora Strong Resilence Center?

The center offers therapy for people who experienced traumatic stress from the theater shooting, and also people who were victims of other crimes and refugees who experienced a traumatic event in their country of origin before coming to the U.S.

How many people were in the theater 9?

There were about 400 people inside theater 9.

Why did Judge Sylvester postpone the trial?

Due to suicide attempts made by Holmes, Judge Sylvester agreed to postpone proceedings until December 2012. On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing, the public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order.

When did Obama visit the Colorado shooting?

Government. President Barack Obama visiting shooting victims at University of Colorado Hospital on July 22, 2012. The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site in Aurora. President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff, in tribute to the victims, until July 25.

When did Cinemark dismiss the motion?

In response, Cinemark's representation filed a motion to dismiss on September 27, 2012, on the grounds that there was no liability under Colorado law for failure to prevent an unforeseeable criminal act.

What happened after the Aurora shooting?

A report after the shooting found that a tangle of parked police cars, curbs and panicked moviegoers blocked ambulances trying to reach the injured. Aurora police officers transported victims to hospitals in police cars, taking initiative that probably saved many lives, according to the report.

What did Aurora bring in to help victims?

Expand. Aurora brought in victims’ advocates from neighboring jurisdictions to work with victims and their families so one advocate was assigned to each family, Oates said. Among other things, the advocates acted as liaisons between the media and the families.

Do Aurora police and fire departments train together?

Today, Aurora police and fire departments share space in the Aurora Public Safety Training Center, which opened in January and allows officers and firefighters to train together, Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz said. “That allows us to train together more often,” Metz said.

How many guns did the Aurora massacre have?

Three of those weapons, including the shotgun and the assault rifle, he brought into the theater, according to Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates. A single shooter with three high-powered guns: It’s hardly shocking that the massacre took the lives of 12 and injured 58 others.

Where did Holmes buy his guns?

Oates said Friday night that Holmes had purchased 6,000 rounds of ammunition on the Internet. He purchased his four guns at area gun shops, the first of which, a Glock, he acquired in May at Gander Mountain, a national chain of outdoor retailers. Six days later, he went to a local Bass Pro Shops to purchase a shotgun.

How many guns did James Holmes have?

James Holmes had no shortage of that. When police apprehended him outside the Century Aurora 16 theater Friday morning, Holmes had four guns on him. He was carrying: Three of those weapons, including the shotgun and the assault rifle, he brought into the theater, according to Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates.

Is Aurora a home-rule city?

The home-rule cities such as Aurora that populate the state are permitted by the Colorado state constitution to govern themselves, which creates a constant tension with the state. “The battle is whether the home-rule cities have the right to have tougher laws than the state, and it’s a matter before the courts.

What is the difference between Aurora and Boulder?

There was one difference between Aurora and Boulder: A Boulder police officer was killed responding to the incident. “You have to walk in that individual’s shoes, not just a mile to appreciate the life of a law enforcement officer in America today. They have been under attack since summer on social issues.

Did Aurora have a gas canister?

Aurora, he had a gas canister he tossed into the crowd. He also had his apartment booby trapped, hoping to kill first responders there. There’s been other incidents around the country, they are becoming more sophisticated on their attack. The threat of an ambush is very likely,” he said.

What is the defense trying to show the jury?

While prosecutors are attempting to show the jury the heinousness of the crime through grisly crime scene photos and emotional witness testimony, the defense is trying to suppress this kind of evidence and turn attention away from the human toll, and instead focus on Holmes’s state of mind at the time of the shooting.

Who is the killer of American Sniper?

Eddie Routh, the killer of ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle. James Holmes, the Aurora theater shooter. Edwin Alemany, accused of kidnapping, robbing and murdering a young woman in Boston. In light of these cases, all just within a few months, it would appear as if the insanity defense is a commonly used defense tactic.

What happens if James Holmes is found guilty?

If they are successful, James Holmes will be found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a mental health facility where he will remain until mental health officials determine that he is no longer a danger to the public safety. That could mean he will be, in effect, locked up for life. If the defense attorneys fail, Holmes will be sent ...

How many cases are insanity defenses raised?

A study commissioned by the National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH) showed that the insanity defense is raised in only one percent of county court cases.

Did Jonathan Schmitz kill Scott Amedure?

It didn’t work for Jonathan Schmitz, who used his alleged insanity as a “gay panic defense” after he killed his friend Scott Amedure after Amedure revealed a same-sex crush on Schmitz on the talk show “Jenny Jones .”. And it didn’t work for Jeffrey Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy, prolific serial killers whose efforts to cover their crimes indicated they ...

Is there an insanity defense?

The insanity defense, which dates back to ancient times, is a controversial defense option. In fact, not all 50 states allow an insanity defense, and several of those that do have rejected “not guilty by reason of insanity” in favor of the less-forgiving “guilty but insane.”.

How long has Tim Dufour been with Aurora Police?

Lieutenant Tim DuFour has served with the Aurora Police Department for 44 years. For the past three decades he has been in forensics, running the agency’s crime lab. He has seen thousands of crime scenes but none was like what he encountered when he arrived at the Century 16 Movie Theater less than an hour after the first calls to police started ...

What did Dufour do after the shooting?

Immediately after the incident, DuFour and his team of crime scene investigators began the process of collecting evidence and organizing it for delivery to the prosecutors who would be seeking to place the gunman in jail for the remainder of his life. Making a Plan.

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Personal Life

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Holmes was born on December 13, 1987, in San Diego, California. His father Robert Holmes is a mathematician and scientist with degrees from Stanford University, UCLA and UC Berkeley, and his mother Arlene Holmes is a registered nurse. He has a sister. Holmes was raised in Oak Hills, a community in Monterey County near C…
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Education and Career

  • In 2006, Holmes worked as an intern at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he was assigned to write computer code for an experiment. Holmes, who was described by his supervisor as stubborn, uncommunicative and socially inept, presented his project to the other interns at the end of the internship, but never completed it. Holmes wrote of his experience at the Salk Institut…
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Aurora Theater Shooting

  • Background
    Holmes' defense attorneys stated in a motion that he was a psychiatric patient of the medical director of Anschutz's Student Mental Health Services prior to the Aurora shooting. The prosecutor disagreed with that claim. Four days after the release of the defense attorney's motio…
  • Prelude
    On May 22, 2012, Holmes purchased a Glock 22 pistol at a Gander Mountain shop in Aurora. Six days later, on May 28, he bought a Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun at a Bass Pro Shops store in Denver. On June 7, just hours after failing his oral exam at the university, he purchased …
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Legal Proceedings

  • Detention and pretrial court appearances
    Holmes was initially jailed at Arapahoe Detention Center, under suicide watch. He was being held in solitary confinementto protect him from other inmates, a routine precaution for high-profile cases. Holmes made his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado, on July 23, 2012, befor…
  • Trial
    On February 27, 2014, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour set the start of Holmes' trial for October 14. The trial was delayed to December 8 upon a defense request for a continuance to further evaluate Holmes' mental condition.On that date, the trial was again postp…
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Imprisonment

  • In September 2015, Holmes was moved to the Colorado State Penitentiary in Cañon City. Authorities said they had not determined at which facility Holmes would be ultimately incarcerated and that it was possible he might be moved out of state due to his high profile. On October 8, 2015, Holmes was assaulted by another inmate, identified as Mark Daniels, who was …
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Events

  • Shooting
    The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. Police said that Holmes bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row. About 20 minutes into the f…
  • Police response
    The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39 a.m. Police arrived within 90 seconds and found three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun, and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater. Some people reported the shooting via Twitter or text mes…
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Casualties

  • Eighty-two casualties were reported. Seventy were hit by bullets, and were reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history. This figure would not be surpassed until the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, which killed 49 people and injured 58 others for a combined total of 107 casualties. Four people's eyes were irritated by the …
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Court Proceedings

  • Holmes' booking photo was released and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings. On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes, including 24 counts of first-degree murder, 116 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illegal possession of explosives. Two …
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Reactions

  • Government
    The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site in Aurora. President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff, in tribute to the victims, until July 25. Both Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertisi…
  • Entertainment industry
    Warner Bros., the distributor of The Dark Knight Rises, said it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in France, Mexico, and Japan, scaled down its marketing campaign in Finland, and decided not to report box office figures for the mo…
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Aftermath

  • Sale of guns and gun control debate
    Colorado gun sales spiked after the shooting, with the number of background checks for people seeking to purchase a firearm in the state increasing to 2,887, up 43% from the previous week. Gun sales in Washington, Florida, California, and Georgia also increased. The shooting reignited …
  • Campaign against media coverage
    In 2015, a campaign titled "No Notoriety" was started by the parents of Alexander Teves, who died in the shooting. According to Teves' father, the campaign's incentive is to encourage media outlets to limit the usage of the suspect's name and photos when reporting about the Aurora sh…
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See Also

  1. 1989 Harlem Nights movie theater shooting– Detroit suburban theater shooting that occurred simultaneous to a shooting scene in the film
  2. 2015 Lafayette shooting – theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, that occurred during the screening of the film Trainwreck
  3. Dark Night, a 2016 film about the shooting
  1. 1989 Harlem Nights movie theater shooting– Detroit suburban theater shooting that occurred simultaneous to a shooting scene in the film
  2. 2015 Lafayette shooting – theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, that occurred during the screening of the film Trainwreck
  3. Dark Night, a 2016 film about the shooting
  4. Gun laws in Colorado

External Links

  • Maps of crime scene 1. Map of theater, parking lot, and diagram of the charges at The Washington Post 2. Map of theater, suspect's apartment, and hospitals at The Denver Post 3. Map and photographs of crime scene at The New York Times Photos 1. "Aurora Colorado theater shooting: The Big Picture", The Boston Globe. July 23, 2012.
See more on en.wikipedia.org