Theater shooting in US: trial set to being for alleged gunman

World Today

It was after midnight and just 20 minutes into the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises” when suddenly, “This shrieking noise came across the bottom of the theater,” theater shooting victim Marcus Weaver said. CCTV’sHendrik Sybrandy reported from Denver.  

It was a smoke bomb. Then a man wearing a helmet and full body armor started shooting. Marcus Weaver saw the muzzle flash of the AR-15 assault rifle.

“And it was just white shadow and you could see his shadow, his silhouette through it,” Weaver said.

Dave Hoover remembers the phone call from his sister at 2:36 in the morning. Her son was one of the victims.

Two and a half years later, and a 20 minute drive from this movie theater, James Holmes is about to stand trial for the shootings.

This is the fifth trial date for Holmes, whose lawyers have battled repeatedly with prosecutors in this case over what evidence should be admitted, which experts should be allowed to testify. The lengthy back and forth has frustrated victims’ relatives like Hoover.

Weaver and Hoover don’t buy that defense and say Holmes deserves the death penalty.

Weaver lost his friend Rebecca Wingo and was shot in the shoulder in the attack. He believes the trial will bring some healing

Hoover said his family’s pain and anguish is forever. The trial, he adds, will be just another piece of the puzzle that’s completed.