Colo. shooting suspect's family says "hearts go out" to those involved

Tom Sullivan, center, embraces family members outside Gateway High School where he has been searching franticly for his son Alex Sullivan who celebrated his 27th birthday by going to see "The Dark Knight Rises," movie where a gunman opened fire Friday, July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) / Barry Gutierrez

(CBS/AP) The Colorado shooting suspect's family in California said their hearts go out to those affected by the movie theater massacre.

"Our hearts go out to those who were involved in this tragedy and to the families and friends of those involved," the family of James Egan Holmes said in a statement released by San Diego police.

Holmes, 24, is being held by police after opening fire at a Aurora, Colo., movie theater where "The Dark Knight Rises" was playing during a midnight screening Friday. At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more were wounded.

Police said the suspect's family is cooperating with authorities in Colorado and California. San Diego police spokeswoman Andra Brown said there's nothing to suggest the family had any involvement.

"We are still trying to process this information and we appreciate that people will respect our privacy," the statement continued.

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The shooter was arrested shortly after the attack near a car outside the multiplex theater.

Holmes doesn't have a criminal record in Colorado or San Diego, where he graduated high school and where his parents currently live. Pentagon officials said there are no records of Holmes serving in the military.

Officials at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver confirmed that Holmes was "in the process of withdrawing" from their graduate program in neurosciences.

A law enforcement official told CBS News that Holmes appears to be the lone gunman.  Police evacuated the area around Holmes' Denver-area apartment, saying it was apparently booby-trapped and full of explosives.

Authorities did not release a motive. The FBI said there was no indication the shooting was tied to any terrorist groups.

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Shooting rampage in Colo. theater

[addict42]

Very sad, the shooter must have snapped from all the school pressures and turned mentally ill...he doesn't deserve the death penalty just treatment.

[JustSayIt]

You are clearly an addict, 42. The correct statement would be the victims did not deserve this guys violence, no matter what he was going through.

[Filmguy870]

I am not in favor of the death penalty...this guy has earned the Death Award.

[credibility2]

We'll probably learn that he was taking drugs until recently and that he told his family or friends that he was going to do something like, or he recently broke up with his girlfriend, or he was bullied, or no one liked him...the excuses won't bring back the dead.

[twmat311]

Nothing will bring back the dead, but a neuroscience grad student withdrawing from UColorado med school? This wasn't some bottom feeder; there's a story here (maybe drugs, or something else) where we might learn something of value - and maybe apply toward the next incident. Or we can just curse the individual and go on to the next story.