Accused Aurora Shooter James Holmes Was ‘Relaxed’ After Massacre
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Booking photo takien shortly after the arrest of James Holmes for the shootings in Aurora, Co. (Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office)(CENTENNIAL, Colo.) — Two veteran police officers broke down on the stand Monday during a preliminary hearing for accused movie theater gunman James Holmes, with one officer choking up when he described finding the body of a 6-year-old girl inside the theater.
Sgt. Gerald Jonsgaard needed a moment to compose himself as he described finding the little girl, Veronica Moser Sullivan, in the blood-splattered theater in Aurora, Colo. An officer felt for a pulse and thought Veronica was still alive, Jonsgaard said, but the officer then realized he was feeling his own pulse.
A preliminary hearing for Holmes began Monday in Colorado, with victims and families present. He is accused of killing 12 people and wounding dozens more in the movie theater massacre. One of Veronica’s relatives likened attending the hearing to having to “face the devil.”
The officers wiped away tears as they described the horror they found inside of theater nine.
Officer Justin Grizzle recounted seeing bodies lying motionless on the floor, surrounded by so much blood he nearly slipped and fell. Grizzle, a former paramedic, says ambulances had not yet made it to the theater, so he began loading victims into his patrol car and driving to the hospital.
“I knew I needed to get them to the hospital now,” Grizzle said, tearing up. “I didn’t want anyone else to die.”
Grizzle drove six victims in four trips, saying that by the end there was so much blood in his patrol car he could hear it “sloshing around.”
An officer who took the stand earlier Monday described Holmes as “relaxed” and “detached” when police confronted him just moments after the shooting stopped.
The first two officers to testify Monday described responding to the theater and spotting Holmes standing by his car at the rear of the theater on July 20, 2012. He allegedly opened fire in the crowded theater during the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.
Officer Jason Oviatt said he first thought Holmes was a cop because he was wearing a gas mask and helmet, but as he got closer realized he was not an officer and held Holmes at gunpoint.
Throughout the search and arrest, Holmes was extremely compliant, the officer said.
“He was very, very relaxed,” Oviatt said. “These were not normal reactions to anything. He seemed very detached from it all.”
Oviatt said Holmes had extremely dilated pupils and smelled badly when he was arrested.
Officer Aaron Blue testified that Holmes volunteered that he had four guns and that there were “improvised explosive devices” in his apartment and that they would go off if the police triggered them.
Holmes was dressed for the court hearing in a red jumpsuit and has brown hair and a full beard. He did not show any reaction when the officers pointed him out in the courtroom.
This is the most important court hearing in the case so far, essentially a mini-trial as prosecutors present witness testimony and evidence—some never before heard—to outline their case against the former neuroscience student.
The hearing at the Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo., could last all week. At the end, Judge William Sylvester will decide whether the case will go to trial.
Prosecutors say they will present potentially gruesome photos and videos in addition to 911 calls from the night of the shooting that left 12 people dead and 58 wounded. They will aim to convince the judge that there is enough evidence against Holmes to proceed to a trial.
It is expected that the prosecution’s witnesses will include the Aurora police lead detective, first responders, the coroner and a computer forensic specialist.
In an unusual move, defense attorneys may call two witnesses. Last week, the judge ruled that Holmes can call the witnesses to testify on his “mental state,” but it is not clear who the witnesses are.
A court-imposed gag order days after the shooting has kept many of the details under wraps, so much of the information could be new to the public.
Hundreds of family members and victims are expected to attend the hearing.
Holmes has been charged with 166 counts of murder, attempted murder, possession of explosives and crime of violence. The district attorney has not decided whether to seek the death penalty, and Holmes’ defense team believes Holmes is mentally ill. He has not entered a plea.
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