Accused Aurora gunman James Holmes sent massacre plans to psychiatrist before attackAccused Colorado killer James Holmes sent a notebook detailing his plans to a psychiatrist at his university before the brazen shooting that left 12 dead and 58 injured in an Aurora movie theatre.
Citing unnamed law enforcement sources, Fox News reported that Holmes sent the notebook to the school in a package that sat in a University of Colorado, Denver, mail room since at least July 12. It wasn’t found until Monday.
The University of Colorado, Denver, confirms it received a suspicious package on campus that it turned over to authorities, but didn’t confirm the package’s contents or the sender.
Fox said the notebook contained drawings of stick figures being shot. NBC News, also citing unnamed sources, reported that Holmes told investigators to look for the package and that it described killing people.
In regards to the package that was sent. Although I'm not aware if there were any warning signs. He was almost a loner wasnt he?
Originally posted by Mairuzu
He was almost a loner wasnt he?
That gets said about just about everyone who does something awful. People who don't know them don't know their friends and already "know" that people who do this kind of thing as supposed to be loners. Friends don't want to come forward and mention being buddies with a monster.
Definitely wasn't a loner, though obviously he cut himself off from everyone at the end. He apparently was a summer camp counselor.
Saying this was preventable because he sent a notebook is ridiculous. As for the "warning signs," lots of people have issues without resorting to this. The police can't investigate everyone who acts out or in an unhealthy way.
Originally posted by Ascendancy
Saying this was preventable because he sent a notebook is ridiculous.
I don't think anyone is saying that. However, if the therapist had found the book, and took it seriously, they are obligated by law to inform the authorities.
That, maybe on top of tracking of thousands of bullets he ordered on the internet, could have actually prevented it.
Its just more of a "What if?" scenario.
Originally posted by Mairuzu
I doubt there were any warning signs besides that package
stockpiling weapons and armor?
Originally posted by Mairuzu
This was found out afterwards wasnt it? That's not really concidered a warning sign. Then again I have no clue if the people close to him were aware of all these purchases.
well, the purchases speaks more to why some increased form of gun control might have helped, but no, the documents sent to the therapist weren't found until Monday, however, they had been at the school since the 12th.
It's interesting, is all I'm saying.
In general, you are right though. Pundits and pop-psychologists try their hardest to describe "warning signs" for these types of things, but they are generally as accurate as people who claim "loss of faith in God" is responsible for shootings. The unfortunate and terrifying thing is that it is almost impossible to describe characteristics of people who will commit random violence like this. It literally could be any one of us, if put in the right context.
though, in this case, in a parallel universe where gun, ammo or armor sales were monitored, and where this package was found, it might have prevented it. Just a strange observation about how the dice are rolled or whatever.
To this guy, at least, there were no warning signs. I wonder how well he knew him though. Said he was shocked. Rest of the interview was typical shit though.
can't watch that in Canada apparently...
highschool classmates say essentially the same thing though:
which is interesting. Its a much harder narrative for people to accept, that normal people can do terrible things for incomprehensible reasons, and the media is nothing if not lazy. Hopefully they don't just try to fixate on some caricature of Holmes.
Originally posted by Robtard
And dishonest. If "tortured soul who lashed out at a society he felt disillusioned with" sells more views than "meh, he's just a loon", that's what they'll go with.
oh, for sure. Look how quick ABC was to try and use the Tea Party narrative, just because it is easy and would sell.
Originally posted by Oliver North
I don't think anyone is saying that. However, if the therapist had found the book, and took it seriously, they are obligated by law to inform the authorities.
That's what the "Adam vs The Man" vid was claiming, that everyone around him coupled with the notebook should have been enough to prevent this. The journal was more implied until he cleared it up, but then he said that "this always happens" where people know something is wrong and don't report it. At Columbine, no one else knew what the shooters were doing. At Padukah, no one else knew. Same for Oklahoma City it seems, and a number of other attacks.
In the case of the VT and U.I. shooters they had a history of mental issues--at least I think the U.I. shooter did also--but there was nothing to suggest this latest Dbag was on edge to those around him. Not sure where "Adam" there is getting his info, but there's a reason he's broadcasting from the int3rw3b5.
Maybe all of us need to become reporters so we can get the truth out there. If we all hit the lottery we'll have enough to start our own self-funded team of crack reporters and trolls.
Originally posted by Ascendancy
That's what the "Adam vs The Man" vid was claiming, that everyone around him coupled with the notebook should have been enough to prevent this. The journal was more implied until he cleared it up, but then he said that "this always happens" where people know something is wrong and don't report it.
my bad. that is a rather dubious argument...
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
I was under the impression no one saw the journal until after the shooting.
If I understand, Holmes told the police about the journal, and they went to retrieve it from the campus. It was found in a mailroom, I don't know if they have officially said if anyone had seen it prior.
Holmes mailed a package to the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus where he had been a student. It was addressed to a psychiatrist at the university, but the letter wasn't discovered until Monday July 23, 2012. In the notebook, Holmes drew stick-figure assailants carrying out an attack and detailing how Holmes was going to kill people. The police concluded that the "drawings and illustrations [were] of the massacre." The notebook is now in the possession of the FBI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Eagan_Holmes
EDIT:
The message Holmes had on his answering machine, or at least how the owner of the gun range Holmes had applied to remembered it:
“In hindsight, looking back -- and if I’d seen the movies -- maybe I’d say it was like the Joker -- I would have gotten the Joker out of it,â€
This is pretty interesting