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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Booking photos for (from left) Dakota Chinnock, Demajhea Tuggle and Treyvion Simpson. He . [82], On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty. [105] On July 30, Holmes' lawyers made a final appeal to the jurors, urging them to consider mental illness in his sentencing despite their rejection of the insanity defense used in the trial. 26. [3] The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. By the time the Bennetts were killed days later, authorities believed one attacker was responsible for the spree, and they went to great lengths to secure evidence in the killings. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. Regardless, it's another victory in what has been a historic year for law enforcement closing decades old notorious cold cases. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. DNA evidence has recently linked the cold case to Alexander . In 1993, a 19-year-old gunman shot and killed three teenagers and their manager at a . According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings. Martinezs grandparents, Eugene and Dallas Martinez, live in Texas and were staying with one of their daughters in Firestone, according to the affidavit. This post examines a series of unsolved attacks and murders that occurred in January, 1984 in the Lakewood suburb of Denver, Colorado. AURORA, Colo. ( KDVR) A 21-year-old suspect is accused of killing his mother and siblings after they were found dead in their . [139], Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film Gangster Squad, which preceded The Dark Knight Rises screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora),[140] because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns. Authorities are searching for a suspect in an overnight shooting that left four people dead at a home in Aurora. [86], The trial started on April 27, 2015. [22][23] He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles. Now investigators are working to determine whether a Nevada convict named Alex Christopher Ewing is that man. [100] The two murder convictions for each death were first-degree murder or attempted murder after deliberation, and first-degree murder or attempted murder with extreme indifference. Martinezs uncle remained at the scene with Martinezs grandmother who was later questioned by police. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. It also had details of his planning for the shooting, which prosecutors said indicated Holmes premeditated the attack. I just want to get it done and get a resolution on this, Connie said. There they find Randall Wilson lying on his back with his hands bound behind him. [107][108], Holmes was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 7 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision over sentencing him to death. But it doesnt seem like that long ago, because its so vivid in my mind.. AURORA, Colo. July 26, 2012 -- The movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., was not the city's first massacre. [145] Warner Bros. He told her he got blackout drunk and stabbed Kaden because he was talking too much, the affidavit said. The familys youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa Bennett, was brutally attacked but survived. It is the deadliest shooting by a lone perpetrator in the history of Colorado and the deadliest mass shooting since the Columbine High School massacre in April 1999. Your login session has expired. Henry from the My Corona series.". [5], The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall[6] at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. It isnt. [30] He was described as being calm and "disconnected" during his arrest. [16] A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film. Around 7 p.m., Martinez went to the home in Aurora with his grandfather, his uncle and a family friend. She was rendered a paraplegic. Prosecutors offered their case as to why the trial should proceed, and defense lawyers argued that it should not. Twelve people were killed and 70 others were injured, 58 of them from gunfire. [138] Members of the Denver Broncos also called or visited individuals at the hospitals. Vanessa was found in bed, clinging to life beside a blood-soaked teddy bear. [90], On May 26, details of Holmes' notebook, reportedly found in a university mail room addressed to his psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, were entered into evidence at the trial for the first time. Denver's independent source of Xin cho cc bn, ti l Aurora Z. Bn c th gi ti l Aura v cho mng n vi knh ca ti ( Speaking Vietnam ) My Fav Fandom: Murder Drone ( My Super Fav . i wonder on Instagram: "I never did trust that smile, it sucks. [151], Soon after the shooting, police departments and cinemas across the United States and around the world increased security for fear of copycat incidents. . On Jan. 28, reports were made of gunshots outside Dick's Sporting Goods. CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) A former Nevada prison inmate was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the long-unsolved 1984 hammer and knife slayings of three Colorado family members, including a 7-year-old girl. [71], On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced that each family of the dead would receive $220,000. But I think there has to be some kind of justice. 11. Alex Ewing is accused of killing 3 members of the Bennett family in Aurora in 1984. . [137] Members of the Colorado Rockies baseball team also visited victims. On October 30, 2012, the court hearing the criminal case against Holmes denied a motion by some of the survivors that would have let them access sealed evidence for review in their civil action against the theater chain. Because of his tactical clothing, Holmes was at first mistaken for another police officer. [63], The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital. They found Estancia with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head and the chest area and multiple stab wounds, which included the face. The document said Marisol also had multiple stab wounds to the face. Police arrived and took Martinez, his grandfather and the family friend to the station to interview them. [25], The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39a.m. Police arrived within 90seconds[26] and found three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun, and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater. James, a young man not even twenty-five years old yet, had married his wife Kim in August of 1982. [31][32] Three days later, at his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado, Holmes's hair appeared reddish-orange. Those pieces of evidence would turn out to hold the key to an arrest but not until years later, when DNA technology improved. [135], Christopher Nolan, the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating". [18] He fired a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. [109][110] Formal sentencing began on August 24 and was expected to last for three days. Christopher Martinez is facing three counts of first-degree murder after he was arrested by Aurora police in the early morning hours of Dec. 11. "[158], Three victims sued Cinemark Theatres in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on September 21, 2012, for the company's alleged negligence in failing to provide adequate safety and security measures. CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A judge sentenced Alex Ewing to three life sentences on Tuesday after he was found guilty in the 1984 murders of three people in Aurora. James Holmes / Aurora, Colorado Movie Theater Shooting < Prev Chapter. The Denver7 Team 4:22 PM, Jan . [104], On July 27, Holmes' sister stated in her testimony that her brother became withdrawn from the family after they moved from Salinas to San Diego during his early teenage years. [86][88] Jurors examined the evidence for thirty minutes. A Kane County jury Thursday convicted an Aurora man of murdering a man he suspected belonged to a rival gang. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. When Ewing was pinpointed as the perpetrator of the Bennett family and Smith attacks, he was already serving a 110-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Henderson-based couple. Its affected her in so many ways, not only physically but emotionally, Connie said. Ahead of the People Magazine Investigates' episode titled The Colorado Hammer Killer, which is scheduled to arrive this Monday, July 11, here are five appalling facts about Alex Ewing. Melissa Bennett seemed to enjoy the instrument, and when Connie headed home around 9 p.m. that night, she thought shed visit again and give more lessons if Melissa stayed interested. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Its not really, fully justice. [35] The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the shooter's car, including another Glock 22 handgun. Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney John Kellner declined to comment on the upcoming trial. Ewing was convicted of killing 27-year-old Bruce and 26 year-old Debra Bennett, as well as their 7-year-old . In the first 38 days of 2023, we've seen 46 officers shot (+109% from 2020 YTD). The series is told from . "Once on scene, officers found a 42-year-old man . On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, United States, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. She miscarried a week after the attack. [101], The sentencing phase began on July 22. "[84], Jury selection started on January 20, 2015. Alex Christopher Ewing has been in a Nevada Prison for most of the past 34 yrs for a similar attack there. [citation needed], On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing, the public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order. [167], In a separate lawsuit in state court, Cinemark was sued by families of the victims, who alleged the theater should have taken greater measures to prevent such a shooting. People who live in Aurora generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest for this type of crime. He required a feeding tube, had severely impaired movement, and could no longer speak. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. [117][118][119][120][121] Many world leaders sent their condolences, including Queen Elizabeth II,[122] French President Franois Hollande,[123] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,[124] Russian President Vladimir Putin,[125] and Pope Benedict XVI.[126]. They cut out a section of concrete floor to preserve a shoeprint. The grizzly site was at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012. One recent report noted that "the gun murder rate in the U.S. is almost 20 times higher than the next 22 richest This past summer a young man named James Holmes bought four guns at local shops and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition on the Internet in the two months prior to opening up inside a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado. The Starved Rock, Illinois Murders Chapter 15: 12. [159] Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons. [76] Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who was the trial judge overseeing the case, placed a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. He could have been eligible for parole this year, if DNA had not connected him to the Colorado killings. It made it very difficult for her to lead a normal life She doesnt really remember anything about the initial attack, but over the years she had a lot of nightmares., The familys slaying was part of a string of hammer attacks in January 1984 that former Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said shocked the conscience of our community.. Bloody bootprints were found throughout the house. He remembers the sight of his co-worker, just a teenager, lying motionless on a blood-soaked floor. [39] Speaking on behalf of himself and FBI agent James Yacone, who was in charge of the investigation, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said he was confident that the shooter acted alone. She still struggles to speak about the details of the attack, and chokes up when she thinks of the assault and murder of Melissa, whom she said was a sweet little girl. Debra was a family-focused woman who enjoyed spending time with her aunts in Lakewood, Connie said. [45][46][47], A police official said a Batman mask was found in the apartment. He stayed until 9:50 then hid in a bathroom until after closing, emerging around 10:05. In 2001, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was able to establish a DNA profile from semen collected from the carpet and comforter in the Bennett sisters bedroom. [112], The evening after the shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site in Aurora. Colorado residents are once again shocked and heartbroken and struggling to understand why mass shootings keep happening in their state. On July 28, Holmes' father pleaded for his son's life, stating that he is severely mentally ill. [147] The song was sold for donations that went to a fund for the victims. At the conclusion, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial. [19][20][21] Finally, he fired a .40-caliber Glock 22 Gen4 handgun. Arapahoe County prosecutors said that Holmes was sane during the shooting and intended to kill all 400 people in the theater, while Holmes' lawyers said he had a psychotic episode during the attack. [87], On May 7, an FBI agent displayed pieces of evidence at the trial, including Holmes' body armor, an arsenal of weapons, unfired ammunition, and a helmet with strands of his dyed orange hair. [157] Security Director News raised the possibility in a July 23 article that "the massacre could be a Virginia Tech for movie theaters, causing security to become a bigger part of the conversation and more stringent security procedures to be adopted at theaters across the country. They entered the home to find Kaden Casteneda, 18, Marisol Espindola, 18, and Estancia Martinez, 41, stabbed and shot to death. Joseph Castorena, 21, went on the run after he allegedly fatally shot four people in an Aurora home on Oct. 30, with his brother and cousin now facing charges of accessory to murder after the fact . In May 2016, after years of legal debate, a jury took three hours to deliver a unanimous verdict that the theater chain was not liable to any degree for the tragedy that transpired. Though it was difficult to see the kaleidoscopic colours with the naked eye due to light pollution . When officers responded to the call and went by the home in the 1500 block of South Evanston Street, they saw the garage door partially open and lights on in the home, according to the affidavit. [133] Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21. He said they picked up some tequila and went back to the homehe, his mother and his sister had just moved to in Aurora. Two "very young" children and a woman who . Seven suspects wanted for Colorado Mills mall shooting. [89] Holmes was represented by the Colorado State Public Defender. Five men Jonathan Blunk, John Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Jesse Childress, and Alexander C. Teves died protecting their girlfriends or friends. [77], On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he is mentally ill and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. The attorney general's office also is conducting a civil rights investigation into the agency, the first under a new police accountability law in Colorado. Martinez called his grandparents again around 8 a.m. and told them he wanted to come to see them. [154], The National Association of Theatre Owners distributed checklists from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures". [57][58] The people murdered were:[59][60], Ghawi had survived the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto that occurred a month prior. Investigators interviewed Martinez after reading him his Miranda Rights and he told them he picked up Kaden after he got off work on Friday, Dec. 9 around 5 p.m. Approximately seven months after the Aurora killings, a Nevada couple was beaten with an ax handle. The accused was then charged with first-degree murder of the Bennetts - Bruce, Debra, and Melissa - and Patricia Smith in 2021 and 2022, respectively. It consists of a park-like dell with 83 abstract birds, one for each victim. The memorial, titled "Ascentiate," was designed by artist Douwe Blumberg. "[160], In response, Cinemark's representation filed a motion to dismiss on September 27, 2012, on the grounds that there was no liability under Colorado law for failure to prevent an unforeseeable criminal act. Michael Roberts March 30, 2022 8:13AM. [94], On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case. The passenger sees something in the ditch and makes the driver go back. Alex Ewing, 60, was found guilty by a jury, The Denver Post reported, after a trial in which prosecutors argued DNA evidence . The victim, identified as Helene Michelle Brooks, 57, died as a result of blunt force injuries and her cause of death is also considered a homicide, according to the coroner's office. Ewing didn't speak during his sentencing hearing. Earlier this year, he was found guilty of first-degree murder of Patricia. Now that the victims have received their fair share of justice, ID's People Magazine Investigates plans to retrace the steps back to 1984, when the Hammer Killer went on a 12-day-long murder spree. Although it took authorities nearly four decades to . Colorado hammer killer, aka Alex Ewing, was found guilty in the Bennetts' and Patricia Smith's murder cases in 2021 and 2022, respectively. From 84, all those years, it was very difficult not knowing who it was, she said. [56], Ten victims died at the scene and two more were pronounced dead in local hospitals. [99], On July 16, after jury deliberations, Holmes was found guilty of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possessing illegal explosives, and a sentence enhancement of a crime of violence. [98], By July 10, the prosecution and the defense rested their cases. [48] On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment. There is nothing that can change anything. [136] Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film series, privately visited victims on July 24. Prosecutors dropped their request for access to the notebook on September 20, 2012. He had serious brain damage and an injury to his right eye from a shotgun blast to the head, and underwent three brain surgeries. Sgt. James Holmes, one of the Colorado Serial Killers. She was hospitalized in a coma with serious facial injuries that left her paralyzed on her left side, Connie said. Investigators allege Ewing entered the home, perhaps through an open garage door, and killed Bruce, who he encountered just outside the master bedroom, perhaps because Bruce had gotten up to investigate a noise, or to chase Ewing out of the bedroom. [10][11] About 30 minutes into the movie, police say, around 12:30a.m.,[12] he reentered the theater through the exit door. [143], In the wake of the shooting, DC Comics delayed the release of Batman Incorporated #3,[144] which includes a scene in which a female Leviathan agent brandishes a handgun in a classroom full of children while disguised as a schoolteacher. After that, parole is a . [146], Hans Zimmer, who composed the soundtrack for The Dark Knight Rises, recorded a choral song entitled "Aurora" in honor of the victims. [168] The judge allowed Cinemark Theatres to submit a bill of costs to the plaintiffs to recover expenses due to the litigation, as Colorado state law allows for prevailing parties. Most egregious was the 2019 police murder of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, a black man who died after . The murders took place after two people covered from head to toe . Because theyre gone. Dan Oates, Aurora's interim police chief, said three men and one woman were killed in the attack just after 2 a.m. Sunday. [72], Holmes' booking photo was released and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. She installed an alarm system. Be the first one to comment on this story. He said he had a fight with his mom over his room being dirty but told them it was small and was not a big deal.. He murdered 12 people and injured 70 others. Events Shooting The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. At approximately 2:00 AM on January 4th . Other famous mass murders in Colorado include the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre and the 2012 Aurora, Colorado . [102][103] On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. Booking photos for (from left) Emily Strunk, Dontavious Hetzel and Kevin Wertin. [66], Caleb Medley, the last victim discharged, left University Hospital on September 12. Denver7 News brings you breaking and developing news from Aurora, Colorado on KMGH-TV and TheDenverChannel.com. Holmes chose not to testify. [106] The appeal for clemency was rejected on August 3 under the basis that mitigating factors such as mental illness did not outweigh aggravating factors such as the number of casualties in the massacre. [181] The reopening ceremony, which was boycotted by opponents of the theater's reopening, included a memorial service and a screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. They were living in Aurora and planned to make a life together there. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep the items. [29] Two federal officials said that Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "The Joker", although authorities later declined to confirm this. 1 weather alerts 1 closings . Earlier, he had rigged his apartment with homemade explosives and incendiary devices. [49] Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building. For Connie, who expects to testify about discovering her sons body, the trial offers a chance to find some peace after a lifetime of struggling with the fallout from the killings. At first the judge ordered a delinquency charge but the Colorado Supreme Court ordered the murder charge reinstated. On July 16 of that year, Holmes was convicted of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of possessing explosives. [174] Gun sales in Washington, Florida, California, and Georgia also increased. The mandatory minimum sentence to serve is 20 years. Face of the man accused of 1984 Hammer Attack Triple Murder in Aurora & Lakewood Murder. Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning. He also said claims alleging violations of the Colorado Premises Liability Act could proceed. Alex Ewing, 61 . Booking photos for (from left) Master Martin, Jesus Mendoz-Prudente and Jerome Johnson. After the shooting on the 9700 block of East Mexico Avenue in Aurora early . Murder-suicide in upscale home. Violent crimes in Aurora, including homicides, non-fatal shootings, aggravated assault, sex assaults and robberies, increased by nearly 16 percent from 2021, based on police data. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy, Family of Aurora man in police video speaks out, Potholes return to Evergreen road known for problems, Makar cleared to return from 2nd concussion protocol, Mercer has goal, 3 assists as Devils beat Avalanche, Racism case against Broncos, NFL going to court, Rockies among 17 teams MLB may take over broadcasts, Jokic has 100th triple-double as Nuggets down Rockets, Sean Payton tried to lure Vic Fangio back to Denver, found dead in their Aurora home Saturday night, Arrest made after 3 people found shot to death in Aurora home, Man shoots bowler who bumped into him, receives 23 years, 17-year-old charged as adult for attempted murder of police officer, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? NEW: Police release photos from the 1980s of Alex Christopher Ewing, suspect in 1984 hammer killings of Patricia Louise Smith and Bruce, Debra and Melissa Bennett. Joseph Michael Ervin, left, has been identified through DNA as a serial killer who, in addition to Aurora (Colo.) police Officer Debra Sue Corr, clockwise from top middle, killed Madeleine Furey . Susan Sarkauskas. A lifetime ago on a Sunday night, Connie Bennett taught her 7-year-old granddaughter to pick out a melody on a chord organ, an early birthday gift shed nabbed from a thrift store for the girl, whod turn 8 in two days. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Triple-homicide suspect accused of killing mother, siblings. [13] He was listening to techno music through a set of headphones so that he could not hear anything from people in the theater. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15[19] semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which eventually malfunctioned. [55] Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater. [38] The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene, sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars. Arapahoe County prosecutors sought the death penalty. [95] In the following week, two additional jurors were dismissed; the first due to emotional problems following the shooting of a family member, the second for recognizing a survivor who was wounded in the massacre. [181] Theater room nine, where the actual shooting occurred, was combined with an adjoining room into a new XD theater room.