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Aurora, Colo., ‘Dark Knight’ shootings

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At least 12 people died and dozens were injured on Friday, July 20, 2012, after a mass shooting in a darkened movie theater in Aurora, Colo. that was crowded with people watching the midnight premiere of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Law enforcement authorities identified the alleged gunman as James Holmes, 24, and said he was taken into custody in a parking lot behind the Century 16 theater after the attack.

The shooter wore a gas mask and, Aurora police said in a statement, “threw some type of gas or explosive device before he opened fire.” He started shooting at the front of the theater and then started moving up and down the aisles, shooting people at random.

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Warrants: Investigators searched Colorado theater shooting suspect’s bank records and iPod

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — James Holmes received six shipments of ammunition from an online retailer, carried a platinum MasterCard and photographed the door to the movie theater where he allegedly killed 12 people and injured 70, according to court records released Wednesday.

Article

Insanity plea by Colo. theater shooting suspect would hold risks for defense, prosecution

(Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool, File / Associated Press)

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — One of James Holmes’ lawyers asked a judge on Monday to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity in the Colorado theater shootings. Such a plea is seen as his best hope of avoiding the death penalty in the killings of 12 people at a packed midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora. Changing the plea still carries risks for Holmes but moving in that direction now allows them to challenge some of the problems they see with Colorado’s laws on insanity and the death penalty.

Article

Lawyers for Holmes say he wants to plead insanity after experts diagnose mental illness

(Ed Andrieski / Associated Press)

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Lawyers for Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes formally told a judge on Monday that he wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity after outside experts diagnosed his mental illness.

 

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