“James Eagan Holmes — now the subject of global headlines — was never one to draw attention to himself,” according to the Denver Post.
“In interviews with people who have known him throughout his life, Holmes was described as a quiet and intelligent person who wouldn’t even acknowledge neighbors in his apartment hallway.
“Holmes, 24, maintained that quiet demeanor even as police say he was plotting a horrific attack that killed 12 people and injured 58 others in an Aurora movie theater early Friday.
“He bought four guns and 6,000 rounds of ammunition, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.
“He rigged his apartment with what authorities fear are deadly explosives and blared techno music from his stereo in what’s believed to be an attempt to invite more devastation when the door was opened.
“From what little is known about the suspect, it appears that he was a study in contrast — a smart and quiet man who authorities say harbored a deadly plan.
“In high school the boy known as “Jimmy” quit the soccer team after his sophomore year and focused mostly on his studies.
“He earned a degree in neuroscience with highest honors from the University of California Riverside in 2010 but didn’t walk in his commencement ceremony.
“Oates said Holmes, who did not resist when he was arrested outside the theater minutes after the shooting, acted alone.
“Oates declined to discuss what motive, if any, Holmes gave police.
“One hint could be in what New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters Friday, saying that Holmes had reportedly identified himself as Batman’s arch-enemy ‘The Joker’ to authorities.
‘”He had his hair painted red, he said he was ‘The Joker,’ obviously the ‘enemy’ of Batman,’ Kelly said at a news conference, addressing the increased security at New York City theaters.
“Oates, who said he talked with Kelly early Friday, would not confirm that report.”
The rest of the article is here.
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On another post on this blog Ben Emery recommended viewing Bowling for Columbine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jGtAcDefHg&feature=player_embedded
I watched it. The thought haunts me that it is barely a news item when We the People drop a bomb on innocent people in other countries and it is a great tragedy when it happens to us. The collateral damage (innocent people killed) in current peace keeping operations is 90%, and this estimate may be low.
Somehow as a nation desperately must find a way to heal our obsession with fear and violence.
It isn’t James Holmes we should be understanding, it is our collective psyche.
I have worked with many that have their PHD’s and found them to have just as many issues as anyone else. This country needs to step up its efforts on identifying and managing its citizens that suffer from mental illness.
It becomes very complicated; how to select people who determine those that have a mental illness which may impel them to acts of such violence.
Agreed, PhD holders are not immune to mental instability by virtue of a few extra post graduate years of specialized study and research vs independent research/study or working, blue or white collar. Nor is the size of one’s bank acct. a predictor of mental stability or overall intelligence.
All things aside, I hope this guys gets a very long time to reflect on the pain that he has caused a number of people, as well as a very long time to reflect on what his actions have caused.
In a non-reflective manner – I also hope that they put him in the general population as he will get the treatment that he duly deserves as I understand that Mr. Eric Rudolph is having a hard time being anal retentive because he’s become the “belle of the ball” in his prison block, and this guy deserves no less!