CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Wearing orange-red hair and looking dazed, the man accused of going on a deadly shooting rampage at the opening of the new Batman movie appeared Monday in court for the first time.
With his eyes at times downcast, James Holmes sat in maroon jailhouse jumpsuit as the judge advised him of the case.
The judge says he will be formally charged next Monday.
Holmes, 24, has been held in solitary confinement at an Arapahoe County detention facility since Friday. He is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and he could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations.
Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers said Monday her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Holmes. She said it will be months before a decision is made on whether to seek the death penalty, and it will be made in consultation with victims' families.
Chambers provided no information on whether Holmes was on medication during the hearing.
Authorities have disclosed that he is refusing to cooperate and that it could take months to learn what prompted the horrific attack on midnight moviegoers at a Batman film premiere.
Holmes has been assigned a public defender, and Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the former doctoral student has "lawyered up" since his arrest early Friday, following the shooting at an Aurora theater that left 12 dead and 58 wounded, some critically.
"He's not talking to us," the chief said.
Holmes has been held without bond at the lockup in Centennial, Colo., south of Denver and about 13 miles from the Aurora theater.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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