Carnage in Colorado: Dazed gunman appears in court

James Holmes sat subdued in court at his first appearance, declining to speak and looking dazed and confused. The appearance was short, and Holmes was silent as he was formally read his rights.

The 24-year-old suspect is refusing to cooperate with police, and it could be months before a motive emerges. He will be formally charged next Monday.

Holmes, who dropped out of a doctoral neuroscience program at the University of Colorado, could face the death penalty for the deadly rampage at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises."

Holmes will face 12 counts of first-degree murder. Tamara Brady and Daniel King are the public defenders assigned to Holmes.

Across the street from the movie theater is a memorial for the victims of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado.   (Fox News )

Across the street from the movie theater is a memorial for the victims of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado. (Fox News)

Across the street from the movie theater is a memorial for the victims of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado.   (Fox News)

The photo of Holmes in the Westview High School (San Diego) yearbook is a far cry from the flame-haired, bizarre appearance of Holmes in court.

The nation awoke on Friday morning to learn of the horrific shooting, which happened shortly after midnight. Police, who arrived at the scene within minutes, took several victims to area hospitals in squad cars after all ambulances were pressed into service. (The Denver Post2012)

July 20, 2012: Police are pictured outside of a Century 16 movie theater where as many as 12 people were killed and many injured at a shooting during the showing of a movie at the in Aurora, Colo. (AP)

July 20, 2012: Police are pictured outside of the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. (The Associated Press2012)

Map locates Aurora, Colorado, where a gunman opened fire at a movie theater killing at least 12 people.

July 20, 2012: An Aurora Police officer talks on his radio outside of the Century 16 theater at Aurora Mall. (AP2012)

Judy Goos, second from left, hugs her daughters friend, Isaiah Bow, 20, while eye witnesses Emma Goos, 19, left, and Terrell Wallin, 20, right, gather outside Gateway High School where witness were brought for questioning Friday, July 20, 2012 in Denver. A gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and fired into a crowded movie theater at a midnight opening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises," killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP2012)

A SWAT team officer stands watch near an apartment house where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (AP2012)

Jacob Stevens, 18, hugs his mother Tammi Stevens after being interview by police outside Gateway High School where witness were brought for questioning after a shooting at a movie theater, Friday, July 20, 2012 in Denver. A gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and fired into a crowded movie theater at a midnight opening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises," killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP2012)

Shamecca Davis hugs her son Isaiah Bow, who was an eye witness to the shooting, outside Gateway High School where witness were brought for questioning Friday, July 20, 2012 in Denver. After leaving the theater Bow went back in to find his girlfriend. " I didn't want to leave her in there. But she's ok now," Bow said. A gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and fired into a crowded movie theater at a midnight opening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises," killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Emma Goos, 19, hugs her mother, Judy Goos, outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning Friday, in Aurora, Colo. Emma was in the third row of the theater of the new Batman movie when the shooter entered. She helped apply pressure to a man's head who was injured. (AP2012)

Police gather near an apartment house where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Family and friends wait outside Gateway High School where witnesses were brought for questioning after a shooting at a movie theater showing the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises," Friday, in Aurora, Colo. (AP2012)

A SWAT team officer stands watch near an apartment house where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Police use a video camera to look inside an apartment where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP2012)

Police break out a window of an apartment where the suspect in a shooting at a movie theatre lived in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. As many as 12 people were killed and 50 injured at a shooting at the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday during the showing of the latest Batman movie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Tom Sullivan , holds a photograph of his son, Alex Sullivan, as he pleads with the media to help him find his son, outside Gateway High School on Friday in Aurora, Colo. Alex Sullivan, was celebrating his 27th birthday by attending midnight premiere of the Batman movie Friday night.

July 20, 2012: Tom Sullivan, center, stands with family members outside Gateway High School where witness were brought for questioning after a gunman opened fire at the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises Batman movie Friday, in Aurora, Colo. Sullivan later pleaded with the media to help find his missing son, Alex Sullivan, who attended the movie to celebrate his 27th birthday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Police officers arrive at the Century 16 theatre east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo., on Friday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Officers load bags of evidence into a car outside the Century 16 theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo., on Friday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Yellow markers sit next to evidence, including a gas mask, as police investigate the scene outside the Century 16 movie theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo. on Friday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: An investigator inspects evidence outside the Century 16 movie theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo. on Friday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Investigators look over evidence on ground outside the back door of the Century 16 movie theater east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo. on Friday. (AP2012)

July 20, 2012: Firefighter work in front of an apartment where the suspect in a theatre shooting lived in Aurora, Colo., on Friday. (2012 AP)

July 21, 2012: Firefighters and bomb technicians work outside James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: Firefighters and bomb technicians work outside James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo. (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: This photo shows the neighboring apartment complex near James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: A bomb technician walks outside James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: An ambulance waits outside James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: Bomb technicians work at James Holmes' apartment in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: Chayyiel Jackson, who was in the front row of Theater 9, shows his movie ticket.  (Fox News )

A movie ticket from the Theater 9, where the massacre took place.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: People gather before a vigil at Gateway High School is Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )

July 21, 2012: People gather before a vigil at Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo.  (Fox News )