CRIME

Newly released photos show Colorado theater shooter's explosive booby traps, chaotic aftermath

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This July 2012 evidence photo, which the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office released in response to open-records requests, shows an assault weapon and blood by sandals following the July 20, Colorado theater shooting by James Holmes in Aurora, Colo. In August 2015, Holmes was sentenced to life in prison because jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty. (Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

This July 2012 evidence photo, which the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office released in response to open-records requests, shows blood at an exit of the theater following the July 20 shooting by James Holmes, in Aurora, Colo. In August 2015, Holmes was sentenced to life in prison because jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty. (Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

This July 2012 evidence photo, which the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office released in response to open-records requests, shows the Colorado movie theater with bullet holes following the July 20, attack by James Holmes in Aurora, Colo. In August 2015, Holmes was sentenced to life in prison because jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty. (Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

Prosecutors have released new photos taken in the chaotic aftermath of the Colorado theater shooting, including pictures of the auditorium where James Holmes killed 12 people.

The images, which prosecutors released in response to open-records requests, also show the elaborate homemade explosives in Holmes' apartment, which he had rigged into a potentially deadly booby trap. The hundreds of photos include images of the three guns Holmes used in the July 20, 2012, shooting and his car, where he dressed head-to-toe in body armor before slipping into the packed movie theater. More than 70 others were injured.

Prosecutors showed most of the photos to jurors during Holmes' four-month trial. He was convicted of 165 felonies and sentenced to life in prison because jurors could not agree that he deserved the death penalty.