U.S. News on NBC News.com
By Pete Williams, Bill Dedman and NBC News staff
The man suspected of carrying out the Colorado movie theater shooting, wearing an outfit of black ballistic gear, was a 24-year-old Phi Beta Kappa graduate student in neuroscience who started buying his four weapons legally in May.
James Eagan Holmes, from San Diego, was a graduate student in the neuroscience program at the University of Colorado Medical School campus in Aurora, a university spokesman told NBC News. He was in the process of withdrawing from school, the university confirmed.
"The
University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus can confirm that
Mr. James Holmes was in the process of withdrawing from the University
of Colorado Denver's graduate program in neurosciences," the university
statement said. "Mr. Holmes enrolled at the university in June 2011."
The university website listed one of his courses as the Biological Basis of Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. He was listed on the class website as making a presentation in the spring on MicroRNA biomarkers.
The University of California, Riverside, confirmed that a student named James Eagan Holmes, with the same date of birth, graduated with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience in 2010. He graduated in four years, attending from the fall of 2006 to spring 2010. Public records show that the Holmes living in Aurora had a previous address at a Riverside dormitory.
A student who lived across the hall from Holmes at Cal-Riverside, who asked not to be named, said Holmes completed the honors program and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key honor societies.
By Pete Williams, Bill Dedman and NBC News staff
The man suspected of carrying out the Colorado movie theater shooting, wearing an outfit of black ballistic gear, was a 24-year-old Phi Beta Kappa graduate student in neuroscience who started buying his four weapons legally in May.
James Eagan Holmes, from San Diego, was a graduate student in the neuroscience program at the University of Colorado Medical School campus in Aurora, a university spokesman told NBC News. He was in the process of withdrawing from school, the university confirmed.
NBC News
James Holmes, the suspect in the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting.
The university website listed one of his courses as the Biological Basis of Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. He was listed on the class website as making a presentation in the spring on MicroRNA biomarkers.
The University of California, Riverside, confirmed that a student named James Eagan Holmes, with the same date of birth, graduated with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience in 2010. He graduated in four years, attending from the fall of 2006 to spring 2010. Public records show that the Holmes living in Aurora had a previous address at a Riverside dormitory.
A student who lived across the hall from Holmes at Cal-Riverside, who asked not to be named, said Holmes completed the honors program and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key honor societies.
Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said Friday that Holmes, born Dec. 13, 1987, is the man who is believed to have killed at least 12 people at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie in Aurora, a suburb of Denver. "We are confident that he acted alone," Oates said. He said he had no way to tell how many rounds were fired, but it was "many, many." Holmes was arrested without any resistance at his white Hyundai car in the theater parking lot, parked just outside the theater's back door. He was wearing a black ballistic helmet, a ballistic tactical vest, ballistic leggings, throat and groin protectors, a gas mask, and tactical gloves, Oates said. The police chief did not address reports that Holmes told officers, "I'm the Joker," referring to the villain in the Batman story. Four weapons were found, Oates said. Two were handguns, made by Glock. Both were 40-caliber. At least one of those was used, the police chief said. One shotgun, a Remington model 870, one of the most popular models. Pump action, single barrel. And one Smith and Wesson AR-15 type rifle, called by some an "assault rifle." These weapons can accommodate large ammunition "clips," but authorities have not yet said what kind of magazines were at the scene. The purchase place and dates are still being traced, and the chief said he didn't know yet if Oates had the weapons legally. Officials told NBC News that all four were purchased legally, beginning in May. Holmes will be arraigned in court on Monday. News organizations have made requests to the judge to allow cameras in the courtroom. The only previous police record for Holmes is a speeding ticket in October 2011, the chief said. Know James Holmes? If you have information, send an email to Bill Dedman of NBC News. NBC's Pete Williams reports the Colorado gunman identified as James Holmes carried two pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun into the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," and said authorities are looking into how he was able to get in through the theater's emergency exit. Holmes' family, who live in Rancho Penasquitos, a community in the northeastern part of San Diego, issued a statement through the San Diego Police Department. "Our hearts go out to those who were involved in this tragedy and to the family and friends of those involved," the statement said. "We ask that the media respect our privacy during this difficult time. Our family is cooperating with authorities in San Diego, California, and Aurora, Colorado. We are still trying to process this information and we appreciate that people will respect our privacy." A man believed to be Holmes' father was seen leaving with luggage, escorted by police. A neighbor, Tom Mai, told The Los Angeles Times that Holmes was a shy, well-mannered kid who was very active in the church. He had trouble finding work after college, Mai said, and then went off to graduate school. Holmes attended Westview High School in San Diego, graduating in 2006, the Poway Unified School District confirmed. A woman who said she knew him in high school told NBC News that Holmes was a good person, but oddly always rooted for the villains in superhero movies. "He was a nice guy. Who very much wanted to be liked and wanted," the woman said. "He was a very, very smart guy. I honestly can not believe he could do this. I know, I know, everyone says that. But it is truly devastating to me. "He did not have many friends for someone who wanted to be liked," she said. "He loved all the villains in superhero stuff, which I did point out as odd. Most people enjoy the hero!" Public records indicate that Holmes lived with two roommates, also from California, in the Aurora building where police have found explosives, at 1690 Paris St., Apt. 10. The building is reserved for students, faculty and staff from the medical campus.
The Denver Post newspaper reported that Holmes, in an apartment rental application he last year, described himself as "quiet and easy-going." A pharmacy student who lives in the building told The Post he called 911 around 12:30 a.m. Friday because there was a song blaring from the stereo inside apartment 10, where Holmes lived. The student, who wanted to be identified only as Ben, said he couldn't make out the song but that it seemed to be the same one playing on repeat. He also said Holmes kept to himself and wouldn't acknowledge people when they passed in the hall and said hello. "No one knew him. No one," he told The Post.
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