AURORA Colo., — The man suspected of killing 12 people and wounding another 50 during a shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, has been identified by police as James Holmes, 24.
A woman from San Diego identified herself as Holmes’ mother told ABC News that authorities “have the right person.”
According to witnesses, Holmes entered through an exit door at the front of the theater roughly 30 minutes into the movie. He wore a gas mask and carried a rifle and a handgun. Witnesses said he threw a canister of tear gas into the crowd and opened fire in the theater packed for the early-morning showing of the latest Batman movie “The Dark Night Rises.”
Holmes attended high school in San Diego and, until dropping out in June, was a graduate student of neurosciences at the University of Colorado Denver Medical Campus.
FBI agents, police and fire fighters descended on Holmes’ apartment following the shooting. Police said Holmes made statements after his arrest alluding to having explosives in his apartment, which is located roughly five miles from the theater. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the devices were “pretty sophisticated” in nature.
Holmes is expected to appear in court as early as Monday.
Written by Katie Mahr, FOX 4 intern
