Aurora theater shooting: Survivors testify at James Holmes’ murder trial

Описание: Originally published on 30 April, 2015

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Witnesses are testifying this week in the long-awaited murder trial of Colorado theater shooter 27-year-old James Holmes. Holmes is charged with killing 12 people during the 2012 midnight premiere of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in Aurora, Colorado.

According to defense attorneys, James Holmes stepped out of the movie theater nine minutes before the shooting and tried to call the University of Colorado switchboard. Witnesses remember Holmes re-entering the theater through an emergency exit wearing a gas mask and body armor. He then threw two tear gas canisters into the audience of 421 people.

Holmes then shot at the audience using three guns: an AR-15 assault rifle, a handgun and a shotgun. One witness remembers him ‘slowly making his way up the stairs’ firing ‘randomly’ at people. Another survivor of the shooting said that he saw Holmes searching the rows and pointing his gun in a circular motion.
Twelve people died and 70 others were injured.

Holmes was arrested shortly afterwards next to his car parked outside the theater. Inside his car, authorities found all three weapons used during shooting. Another handgun was recovered inside the theater.

The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last four to five months. According to The Wall Street Journal, Holmes’ public defenders are not contesting that he is responsible for the shooting. Instead, they will plead not guilty by reason of insanity, saying that Holmes was in the ‘throes of a schizophrenic episode’ when he opened fire.

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