James holmes what do we know

The University of California, Riverside , confirms that a student named James Holmes, middle name Eagen, graduated there with a bachelors degree in neuroscience in Update: Reuters reported that his apartment was "littered with soda bottles," but, "the living room of the suspect's apartment was crisscrossed with trip wires connected to what appeared to be plastic bottles containing an unknown liquid, said Chris Henderson, Aurora's deputy fire chief.

What his neighbors say: Neighbors told the paper that his curtains never moved and they never saw lights, even late at night. The conversations we did have were short. He was somebody you wouldn't even look twice at walking down the street. The young man came off as smart, Mitchell said, and carried himself with a swagger. What his family says: Police and reporters made their way to his mother Arlene Holmes's house in the suburb of Torrey Highlands, where she confirmed her son had been involved.

Our hearts go out to those who were involved in this tragedy and to the families and friends of those involved. Holmes struggled through his first academic year at Anschutz; he signed up for a class that explored the biological origins of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and was scheduled to give a presentation on "MicroRNA Biomarkers," according to a class schedule published online.

Four months ago, however, Holmes apparently lost interest in neuroscience and allegedly began stockpiling ammunition and explosives. His behavior in class didn't seem to change, though, said his classmates. Then came early June, when all first-year students faced a demanding oral exam. The exam came and went, and the other students didn't hear how Holmes had fared. Then they got word: On June 10, he had sent an email to administrators, saying he was leaving school. He received frequent deliveries at his home and the university, according to police.

Over a period of two months, he bought a semiautomatic variation of the military's M assault rifle, a pump-action gauge shotgun, and at least one Glock. He also bought and stockpiled 6, rounds of ammunition from online sources.

Every purchase he made was legal. On June 25, Holmes emailed Glenn Rotkovich, owner of a local gun range called Lead Valley, asking for an application to join the shooting range. Rotkovich followed up with Holmes within a day or two, calling to inform him when to come to the range for orientation. After he called a third time, Rotkovich said his attitude changed.

Is he weird? Is there something strange about this dude? I flagged it that he had to see me before he gets to do anything. ON JULY 20, outfitted with bulletproof helmet, vest, and leggings; a throat protector; a groin protector; gloves; and a gas mask — all black — Holmes carried three of his weapons into a darkened multiplex where a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises , the new Batman movie, had just begun.

Families and teenagers were packed into the sold-out auditorium. Holmes set off tear gas canisters. He fired the shotgun at the moviegoers; turned to the semiautomatic rifle, firing it until its round barrel magazine jammed; and then kept firing with a pistol.

Within minutes 12 people were dead and 58 injured, many critically. Minutes later, Holmes surrendered without incident when police confronted him behind the theater.

As he was arrested, according to police, he compared himself to the Joker character in the Batman movies. Neighbors, acquaintances, and teachers who knew the suspect found themselves searching for any glimmer that could offer some small clue as to how the quiet man from their memories came to be arrested for such a horrific crime. Apart from a speeding ticket, Holmes had no previous encounters with the police in Aurora. He had no history of trouble with the police at college in California.

He left no easily identifiable online messages or videos that might offer any insight to his mindset. It also remained unclear how Holmes was able to afford the large cache of weapons, ammunition, and protective gear he had.

After the shooting at the theater, police discovered a sophisticated set of explosive booby traps at Holmes' run-down apartment.

A interview between James Holmes and a psychiatrist was played in court Friday. Mark Strassmann. Please enter email address to continue. Please enter valid email address to continue. Chrome Safari Continue. Be the first to know.

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