Haunting Theater Shooting Evidence Photos Released

Haunting Theater Shooting Evidence Photos Released
Colorado DA

The Colorado District Attorney's office this week released a trove of photos, videos and other evidence from the trial of theater shooter James Holmes.

The evidence, which prosecutors released in response to open-records requests, includes photos and security footage from inside the Aurora theater where Holmes shot and killed 12 people on July 20, 2012.

"Now that the trial is over, the District Attorney is responding to records requests by making appropriate materials available through this Dropbox procedure, which is designed to streamline making materials available," said Rich Orman, the senior deputy district attorney.

The evidence dump includes pictures found on Holmes' iPhone, and a batch of letters that includes fan mail from a 19-year-old student who said Holmes was “pretty groovy and you’ve got great hair."

In another, his mother said “our church is praying for our family and rest assured that includes you.” She also suggested some Bible verses that she found comforting and requested that Holmes add her and his father to his visitor list in jail.

Some evidence photos are posted below, though much of the newly released material is jarring and gruesome, and will not be published by The Huffington Post. One video added to the evidence dump shows theater staff and customers ducking for cover and fleeing the building.

Prosecutors showed most of the photos to jurors during Holmes' four-month trial. He was convicted of 165 felonies and sentenced to life in prison in August because jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty.

The office released much of the evidence presented below without added context. Some images that HuffPost will not publish include evidence photos from inside and outside the theater. Other photos show Holmes' booby-trapped apartment, as well as metadata from his Match.com profile.

Empty theater
Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office
The empty movie theater.
Batman mask
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
A Batman mask James Holmes owned taken as evidence.
Lucky coin
Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office
A bullet from the gun of James Holmes lodged into a coin.
Apartment
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
James Holmes' apartment was rigged to explode.
Makeshift bomb
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
A makeshift bomb -- one of many planted in the murderer's home.
Selfie
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
A selfie taken from James Holmes' iPhone.
Gas mask
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
The gas mask used by Holmes lies in the Aurora movie theater parking lot.
Arsenal
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Arsenal found in Holmes' apartment.
Rifle
Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office
The semiautomatic rifle Holmes used to kill 12 people.
Apartment 2
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Another view inside Holmes' booby-trapped apartment.
Apartment 3
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
James Holmes' kitchen table cluttered with devices used to make bombs.
Selfie 2
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Another selfie taken from the killer's electronic device.
"Will you visit me in prison?"
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
The Match.com profile of James Holmes
Match.com
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
More on Holmes' Match.com profile.
Bombs
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Bombs littered around Holmes' apartment.
Bullets
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Jars of bullets collected from the scene.
Selfie
Rich Orman, Colorado DA
Holmes takes a photo of himself.
Female fans
Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office
A wall of photos adorn the cell of James Holmes. The photos were sent to him by female admirers.
Shotgun
Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office
Holmes' shotgun found on the floor of the theater.

Huffington Post reporter Michael McLaughlin contributed to this report, as did The Associated Press.

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