What a horrible thing to wake up to this morning. I sleep with my television on, so I woke up hearing the news coverage of the shootings on CNN before I even opened my eyes. All day long, as more details come in both about the incident as well as the killer, James Holmes, I become more and more bewildered continually asking out loud to no one, “Why?”
Why?
Jimmy Holmes was a mainstream American kid. Actually, more so above average especially when compared to our youth today. In this photo of Holmes, he looks happy. His eyes are twinkling and he has a genuine smile on his face. That is not the photo of a killer – one would think. He was an honor student, played varsity soccer in high school, and he had enrolled last year in a neuroscience Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado-Denver but was in the process of withdrawing, said school officials, who didn’t provide a reason.
Why?
James Holmes | His Background
The police have run thorough background checks on Holmes and the ONLY thing which show up is ONE speeding ticket. That’s it. A speeding ticket. The online background check has revealed that Jim Holmes is not a social media user, nor is there anything with even the slightest hint of his murderous plan. Neighbors, family and friends typically describe him as a quiet person who keeps to himself. He has never been known or seen to act violently in any manner.
Why?
James Holmes | His Arsenal and Body Armor
It just doesn’t “fit.” We now see that this massacre was completely and carefully premeditated. Never having been arrested and with a spotless record, purchasing guns was a piece of cake for James. He bought his first Glock pistol in Aurora, Colo., on May 22. Six days later, he picked up a Remington shotgun in Denver. About two weeks later, he bought a .223 caliber Smith & Wesson rifle in Thornton, Colo., and then a second Glock in Denver on July 6 — 13 days before the shooting. Investigators also found a drum magazine, capable of carrying 100 rounds of ammunition, which was attached to the AR-15 rifle. Authorities also searched the suspect’s car in the parking lot of the movie theater and found more magazines and ammunition. The suspect purchased 6,000 rounds of ammo over the Internet, Police Chief Dan Oates said. All this was done legally.
What bothers me even more is the fact that he had purchased a huge amount of body armor. Holmes very carefully covered and protected the vital parts of his body by wearing a bullet-proof vest; ballistic helmet and protective ballistic gear for his legs, throat and groin; black gloves; and a gas mask.
James Holmes did not want to die. He wanted to walk away from this massacre alive. Why???
Police state that when they caught him, he pulled of his helmet and mask to reveal recently dyed red hair and commented that he was the “Joker.” I’m not sure I’m buying this one. Holmes may have said that, but with an intelligence level he has, could this not be way to distract the investigators from the truth? Almost like a cat and mouse game. I rather think that Holmes is playing mind games with the law and investigators.
Why?
Additionally, the suspect has completely booby-trapped his apartment. Police have described a scene with wires running all throughout in addition to large jugs of liquid – possibly flammable or explosive. When James last left his apartment around midnight, he left some techno music on playing very loudly and purposely to disturb the neighbors. Was he hoping for a front door entrance to trip some chain reaction of explosions?
Or is he playing mind games?
When thinking back about many of the previous massacres, such as Columbine and Virginia Tech, most of time something traumatic has happened in the killers life whether it be the victim of bullying, a broken heart, failure in school, and so on. Other than withdrawing from his PhD program – which he was not failing – no one knows of any recent event, or any event which may have wounded him for life. At least no one has yet come forth.
James Holmes | The Colorado Theater Massacre has similarities to the Oslo massacre which occurred one year ago on July 22, 2011
When thinking back at several of the more recent mass shooting, I realized that the movie theater massacre is one year after the Oslo Norway massacre on Utoya island where 80 people were murdered in cold blood by Anders Behring Breivik. Now, to be precise, the Oslo murders were on July 22nd – but that day so happened to be a Friday, which is today, but one year ago. Holmes’ choice of movies I believe is simply because he knew that the theater would be full. Plus later at night there are fewer people out and about which makes staying out of view much easier to accomplish.
Is there a tie between the two? If so, I doubt it is anything political and am fairly confident that there was no interaction between Holmes and Breivik in the past. Perhaps Holmes worshipped Anders? After all, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Anders started out by bombing a government building. This drew the law enforcement to that location while he moved on his way to his true destination – Utoya Island and the campers. Anders was dressed as though he was an officer, thus being able to easily approach the campers. Then he pulled out an assault rifle and fired away killing eighty people.
What if Holmes planned his apartment to be the attention-grabber by exploding? What if he has his door rigged so that a heavy knock, or jiggling the door handle, or even opening the door as it may be unlocked. The police have not yet tried to enter the front door due to all the wiring. Therefore, Holmes was hoping that an unsuspecting neighbor would become annoyed enough go to his apartment to ask him to turn down the music. However he has it rigged, it explodes – and appears it may be rather violently with all the jugs and wiring the bomb experts can see.
Then while the police and emergency responders are at his apartment, Holmes is quietly entering into the movie theater during the midnight premier showing of the third movie in the Batman series, The Dark Knight Rises. He then tosses a gas canister in the audience to cause confusion, then opens fire with the automatic rifle releasing hundreds of rounds in just seconds, which is very much the same manner that Anders did one year ago. When Holmes stopped shooting, he calmly left to return to his car, where he was captured and arrested. Perhaps he thought he would have more time since most of the police force would, or should have been at the exploding apartment building.
Coincidence? Or planned? Does James Holmes idolize massacre killers, specifically Anders Behring Breivik?
References and Related Articles:
Mercury News: Colorado shooting suspect James Eagan Holmes was honor student
ABC News Video report: Aurora, Colorado Shooting: Inside James Holmes’ Apartment
CNN: Police: Suspect got guns, ammo legally
CNN: Philadelphia Mayor: gun control “is about reasonable regulations to protect people.”
CNN: Gunman turns ‘Batman’ screening into real-life ‘horror film’
CNN: Police log: ‘I need somebody to shut this movie off’
Associated Press on News One: James Holmes Was ‘Loner,’ Grew Up In San Diego
Marin Independent Journal: James Holmes: Accused Colorado shooter is grandson of decorated veteran, has family roots in Monterey County
CBS News: The mystery of James Holmes’ missing Facebook account
CBC News: Norway island camp massacre claims 80
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