Charges were formally presented to James Holmes in court on Monday (July 30). He is the former graduate student who opened fire on movie goers in Aurora, Colorado, during a screening of the latest Batman movie called “The Dark Knight Rises.” Holmes was charged with 142 criminal counts, including first-degree murder. This was his second court appearance since being arrested just after the massacre, which took place shortly after midnight on July 20, 2012.
“The man accused of opening fire in a crowded movie theater on July 20 was formally charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder Monday. James Holmes, 24, appeared in court to hear the charges against him, but unlike his first appearance last week, no video or still cameras were allowed in the courtroom.
“Twelve people were killed and 58 people were wounded or injured in the shooting, which took place just after midnight during a showing of the new Batman movie, ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ Holmes is facing two separate charges for each person killed or injured. The second charge for each alleges that in killing or injuring, Holmes evidenced ‘an attitude of universal malice manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life generally.’” [1]
“In the 45 minutes that Holmes was in the courtroom, he appeared dazed. A light-colored beard had grown on his cheeks since he last appeared in court. Holmes was emotionless, and his eyes seemed heavy. He mostly sat back in his chair, sometimes swaying side to side during the proceedings. His gaze often drifted to one of the eight officers stationed in the courtroom, the attorneys or judge. At one point, he stared at the ceiling. At another, he closed his eyes as if dozing off.” [2]
“Seventy people were shot or otherwise wounded, the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history and the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Ten people died at the scene and two died in local hospitals… The youngest shooting victim was three months old.” [3]
This has certainly been a dark night for the families and victims of the mass shooting. Prayer vigils, funerals, memorial services, and flags flown at half-mast mark the grieving of a nation. Many long for a day when all evil and injustice will stop, when the dark enemy of our world will be forever put away. Jesus spoke of signs of the end of time. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
The wickedness of this world will soon end when Christ comes to stop crime, murder, and senseless killing. Like at the creation of our world when God “separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4), judgment will come to our planet. The light of God’s perfect love will once again shine over the earth and we will live in peace. Are you looking for that new day?
If you would like to know more about what the Bible predicts will happen to end darkness on our planet, you are invited to attend one of our upcoming prophecy seminars listed on this website!