Colorado movie theatre shooter James Holmes sentenced to life imprisonment
A long trial reached its conclusion on Wednesday when accused James Eagan Holmes was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for breaking into a Colorado movie theatre and opening fire. Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. was left with no other sentencing option after the jury failed to agree unanimously on a death penalty for him earlier this month.
The outcome of the trial came three years after the incident took place. On July 20, 2012, Holmes broke into Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, while a midnight show of “The Dark Knight Rises” was running. He opened fire on hundreds of helpless people. The shocking act of his killed 12 people and injured 70 more. The deadly shooting had been planned and executed by Holmes alone.
The sentencing came two days after the judge heard the survivors of the attacks as well as the emergency workers who responded to the shooting. Holmes was charged with first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count for possessing explosives. Colorado prison will determine where Holmes will be kept after an assessment of his mental health.
Holmes, who has been diagnosed with varying forms of schizophrenia, could be sent to the 250-bed San Carlos Correctional Facility in Pueblo, the mental hospital of the correctional department. He can also be sent to an out-of-state prison.
Arlene Holmes, the mother of the 27-year-old accused, told the victims and their relatives on Tuesday that she prays for them to find some peace.
“We are in a unique and unenviable position because we cry for James and we cry for thousands of people in Aurora,” Arlene said. “We cannot feel the depth of your pain. We can only listen to everything you have expressed, and we pray for you. We pray for your peace, your peace with the sentence. We pray for your ability to sleep at night, and your ability to find a single moment of happiness when that happiness seems completely elusive.”
She said that she is sorry for what happened. She added that her son said he feels remorse for his horrible actions but he is being unable to express his emotions due to his illness and strong medication.
Holmes moved to Colorado from California in 2011 and got admission into the prestigious post graduate program in neuroscience at the University of Colorado.
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