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Posted: Monday, 30 July 2012 3:58AM

Shooting suspect charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder



CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Reuters) - The former graduate student accused of opening fire on moviegoers in a Denver-area screening of the latest "Batman" movie 10 days ago was formally charged on Monday with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder.

The charges were formally presented as James Holmes, 24, made his second court appearance since his arrest moments after the massacre during a packed showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" shortly after midnight on July 20.

The rampage left 12 dead and 58 injured, several critically.

Prosecutors essentially charged Holmes with two murder counts for each victim - one standard first-degree murder charge plus one count of murder with extreme indifference.

In all, prosecutors have charged Holmes with 142 criminal counts in the shooting, the 24 murder and 116 attempted murder counts plus one count of possession of an explosive device and one count of committing a crime of violence.

Story & Photos Copyright 2012 Reuters
Filed Under :  
Topics : Law_Crime
Social :
Locations : Aurora, Centennial, Colorado, Denver, San Diego
People : Ashley Moser, James Holmes, Lynne Fenton, William Sylvester

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