Holmes charged with 24 counts of murder in Colorado shootings

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Prosecutors charged James Eagan Holmes with 24 counts of murder and 116 counts of attempted murder Monday for the shooting rampage in a Colorado movie theater July 20, the Associated Press reports.

According to NBC News, the murder charges include 1 count of “murder of extreme indifference.”

The former University of Colorado graduate student appeared to be just as dazed during his second court appearance as he was during his arraignment on July 23, three days after he allegedly opened fire on the audience in a packed movie theater, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.

Authorities would come to discover thousands of dollars’ worth of ammunition inside Holmes’ apartment. It was subsequently revealed that Holmes had been seeking psychological treatment and sent a psychiatrist a warning package a week before the shooting occurred.

Experts say Holmes’ state of mind is likely to be the only point of contention during his trial.

“I don’t think it’s too hard to predict the path of this proceeding,” former Denver chief deputy district attorney told the AP. “This is not a whodunit. … The only possible defense is insanity.”

[image via Agence France-Presse]