Batman movie massacre suspect in court, brings orange hair, but no emotion

Holmes made his first court appearance Monday.

James Holmes, the suspect in the Batman movie massacre appeared in court for the first time today. He is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 58 more in a mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado last week.

Holmes’  hair was dyed orange and he showed little emotion, even appearing to nod off at times, as he sat in court. He is expected to be formally charged next week and prosecutors are considering, hardly surprising, the death penalty.

Holmes has been kept in solitary confinement since his arrest and has been very uncooperative thus far.

According to police, Holmes began buying guns and ammunition more than two months ago, including 6000 rounds which were purchased on the internet.

Shortly after his arrest Holmes also informed police that his apartment was rigged with explosives and booby traps – they had to spend most of the weekend evacuating the surrounding area while they disabled the live wires and made it safe for investigators.

Among the items discovered in Holmes’ apartment was a Batman mask.

Updated: Suspect identified in Batman movie massacre

Image courtesy Reuters

The shooting suspect in the Batman movie massacre has been identified as 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes from Aurora, Colorado.

Holmes is described as a “book smart” guy who was a Doctoral student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the neuroscience program.

He has had no previous criminal record with the exception of a speeding ticket in October of 2011.

During his arrest Holmes told police that he was the Joker, a reference to one of Batman’s archenemies.

He also bobby-trapped his apartment in Aurora – police have found several elements that could be dangerous and have explained that it could be days before they are able to make it safe for law enforcement to enter and begin their investigation.

Holmes family have issued a brief statement, ”Our hearts go out to those who were involved in this tragedy and to the families and friends of those involved”.

Massacre at “The Dark Night Rises” screening

12 murdered, dozens injured in Colorado midnight premiere

An unidentified suspect has been arrested in the shootings.

An undentified man in his 20s entered an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre early this morning, around 2:30 EST, heavily armed and opened fire on an audience screening the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. He alleged had an AK-47, two hand guns and a shotgun as well.

Witnesses report that he was wearing a gas mask as he entered the theater, shortly afterwards he tossed a canister of tear gas and then began firing into the audience.

Shortly after the massacre began police  arrested a suspect in the shootings behind the theatre in the parking lot. He has yet to be identified but he is described as being in his early 20s and did not resist arrest although police evacuated his apartment building after he made  comments about explosives in his home.

Among the people injured were a 3 month old girl and another 9-year-old girl. Several other people remain in critical condition.

Aurora is less than 20 miles away from Littleton, Colorado where the Columbine High School massacre took place in 1999. 12 students and 1 teacher died in that shooting.

If you live in the Aurora area, were at the theater or have any information, pictures or video let us know and we’ll post your story.