Movie Shooting Suspect Was Educated In Advanced Sciences
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- The man under arrest after the mass shooting in Aurora that took place overnight during a showing of the movie "The Dark Knight Rises" was educated in advanced sciences.
The suspect, James Holmes, 24, is in police custody while bomb squads search his apartment they say is laced with explosive devices.
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The apartment is located at 1690 Paris Street, and five other buildings around it are evacuated. Officers are using surveillance cameras and a fire engine ladder to look inside the window of Holmes' apartment, which is located on third floor. The apartment is believed to be booby trapped and bomb squads were preparing to detonate a device inside at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Earlier, investigators examined a dumpster outside the apartment, emptied some items into a bag, and took the bag and then left with not only a bag but also the entire dumpster.
Holmes is a PhD student in neurosciences program at the medical school at the University of Colorado Aschutz Medical Campus but officials say he was in the process of withdrawing. There was no reason given for his withdrawl. He enrolled at the university in June 2011.
Prior to that he graduated from the University of California Riverside, east of Los Angeles, with a degree in neuroscience.
Holmes graduated in 2006 from Westview High School in San Diego and then attended a biotech boot camp at Miramar College in 2006. He then interned at the Salk Institute for biological studies.
The only criminal record Holmes had in Colorado was a speeding ticket in October 2011.
The University of Colorado released this statement Friday afternoon: The University of Colorado community, particularly the CU Anschutz Medical Campus community, extends its deepest condolences to the victims, family and friends affected by today's tragic shooting. The expertise and professionalism in the response of the doctors, nurses, other health care professionals and counseling professionals at the University of Colorado Hospital has been exceptional. We also appreciate the work of all those throughout the campus who responded to the tragedy.
The university is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they continue their investigation. The alleged gunman, James Holmes, was a graduate student studying neurosciences on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. He was admitted in June 2011, but left the program in June 2012. The university has taken appropriate security measures to address the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors.
Holmes recently was in Rancho Peñasquitos, Calif., and was believed to be in his mother's home.
Holmes' father left the family home in San Diego Friday morning and was headed for Colorado. He landed at Denver International Airport early Friday afternoon.
