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Booby Traps Hinder Search Of Mass Shooting Suspect's Apartment

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A man is under arrest after the mass shooting in Aurora that took place overnight during a showing of the movie "The Dark Knight Rises," and police report that they are being very careful as they try to investigate his apartment.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the suspect is James Holmes, 24, and they say his apartment is laced with explosive devices.

RELATED: Officials Describe Mass Shooting During 'Dark Knight Rises' Movie

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.

James Holmes
James Holmes (credit: University Of Colorado)

Copter4 video showed that police had conducted a search of what appears to be the suspect's car behind the movie theater where the shooting happened. The car had a Colorado license plate on it and there were multiple items of suspected evidence strewn about on the parking lot.

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.

The FBI has joined local police in the investigation. Aurora police said officers from agencies across the Denver metro area have been assisting them with the investigation.

The police presence includes SWAT Teams and bomb disposal units.

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 West View 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.

Holmes does not appear to have a criminal record in Colorado, according to CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass.

CBS Radio in Los Angeles reports 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 and expected to land at Denver International Airport early Friday afternoon.

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