Aurora theater shooter showed 'no signs' of planning to kill people


James Holmes, who killed 12 and injured 70 others during a July 2012 screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, showed "no signs" in the preceding months of planning to kill anyone, according to the testimony of his psychiatrist at the time, Dr. Lynne Fenton.
The testimony of Fenton, who was speaking publicly about Holmes' case for the first time, has been highly anticipated, after Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
In her testimony, Fenton confirmed that Holmes had indeed entertained thoughts about killing others, calling it a remedy to his "biological disorder," but when pressed by prosecutors said he had no plan to conduct a mass shooting.
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Holmes met with Fenton five times in 2012, and he was treated for depression and anxiety. Although she had suggested prescribing an anti-psychotic, Holmes declined because it made him sleepy.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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