James Holmes charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder in Aurora, Colo., movie theater massacre

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Source: Holmes letter warned of shooting

James Holmes, the man accused in the July 20, 2012 Colorado theater massacre

(CBS/AP) AURORA, Colo. - The man accused of opening fire in a crowded movie theater on July 20 was formally charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder Monday.

Pictures: 12 dead, dozens wounded in shooting at Batman movie

James Holmes, 24, appeared in court to hear the charges against him, but unlike his first appearance last week, no video or still cameras were allowed in the courtroom.

Twelve people were killed and 58 people were wounded or injured in the shooting, which took place just after midnight during a showing of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises."

Holmes is facing two separate charges for each person killed or injured. The second charge for each alleges that in killing or injuring, Holmes evidenced "an attitude of universal malice manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life generally."

Holmes is also charged with a one count of possession of explosives. Authorities say he booby trapped his apartment.

Security was tight for Monday's hearing. Armed officers were stationed on the roof of both buildings at the court complex, and law enforcement vehicles blocked entrances to the buildings.

The judge also has placed a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado,Denver from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year there as a neuroscience graduate student. A consortium of media organizations, including The Associated Press and CBS, is challenging Sylvester's sealing of the court file.

Legal analysts believe the case will be dominated by arguments over his sanity. Holmes allegedly began stockpiling weapons and ammunition for the shooting perhaps months before the incident.

"I don't think it's too hard to predict the path of this proceeding," said Craig Silverman, a former chief deputy district attorney in Denver. "This is not a whodunit. ... The only possible defense is insanity."

Last week, Holmes' attorneys revealed that he had been seeing a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado, Denver. The information was made public as part of a motion to find out who leaked information to the media about a package allegedly sent by Holmes to the psychiatrist, Dr. Lynne Fenton.

Media reports had said that the package contained a notebook with descriptions of the attack.

Complete coverage of James Holmes on Crimesider

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by SuoperClique July 31, 2012 4:44 PM EDT

What the Point in accumulating the Points charged against him. They are not going to put him down. There is not diff between him and a guy charged with 2 counts in Jail. nor does the punishment get severer. If he was in others parts of the world then he prob would have been whipped till his limbs fall off. jail time in the usa is a luxury. Free food, housing, clothes, fresh water etc etc

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by andyk1234 August 1, 2012 4:01 PM EDT: "Jail time in the USA is a luxury." Hahaha. What an elitist, white piece of trash. Try giving up every single one of your freedoms, living in an 8'x10' cell, and having to be roommates with 1000 other criminals for even a year. You'll be crying yourself to sleep every night after the first week.


by UForgotPoland July 31, 2012 1:08 AM EDT: This guy looks like he's kind of gay. Maybe he was confused on his sexuality and lashed out?; Reply to this comment

by ahendryx819 July 30, 2012 4:32 PM EDT

Ashley Moser, the pregnant woman who's daughter was killed, miscarried over the weekend due to this crime. Unfortunately, Colorado doesn't have laws about fetal homicide. Otherwise, there would have been another count of murder. I wish Colorado would pass Kelly's law, written and passed by MY family, after she was murdered while pregnant IN Colorado. Then this scumbag would have faced even more charges.

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by andyk1234 August 1, 2012 3:46 PM EDT: Instead of getting 380 years in prison, he would get 400 years in prison. Nice.


by ultraskygod July 30, 2012 4:05 PM EDT: perhaps they are trying to not taint the jury pool; Reply to this comment

by ahendryx819 July 30, 2012 3:09 PM EDT

So, nobody is allowed to make his past public information?.....I love how criminals in this country have more rights than the rest of us. I have a huge issue with the state placing an order to keep everyone quiet about the past history of somoene who is obviously a very violent offender. Had one of my loved ones been a victim, I'd want to know as much about him as possible, especially if there were red flags that this was going to happen. It's already evident that the psychologist he was seeing failed to take things seriously; I wonder how many other people did as well......

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by Konchh August 1, 2012 1:29 AM EDT: Why do they decide to not show this guy on TV anymore. Cause he is a drugged up patsy that was put in place by the powers that be. This whole thing is BS look at his handlers..... inforwars


by andyk1234 August 1, 2012 3:49 PM EDT: I, for one, think the finger-pointing over this issue needs to stop. We can blame his psychologist, his professors, his parents all we want. It isn't going to change what he did. I personally don't care about his past history, and I respect the accused's rights in America, guaranteed by our Constitution. People are so quick to jump on the hype bandwagon and throw out everyone's rights because of the actions of a few. Patriot Act, anyone?