Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Watch: Rioters in London Clash With Police Over ‘Cleaver’ Terror Attack

Crime

‘Disgusting’: Colo. Theater Shooting Victims’ Kin Lash Out at Cinemark Over Movie Event Invites

Jan. 2, 2013 6:56pm Billy Hallowell

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (TheBlaze/AP) — Relatives of the majority of people killed in a Colorado movie theater rejected an invitation on Wednesday to attend its reopening later this month, calling it a “disgusting offer.” The group expressed outrage over the company’s handling of the situation.

The parents, grandparents, cousins and widow of nine of the 12 people killed released a letter sent to the theater’s owner, Cinemark, in which they criticized the Plano, Texas-based company for not reaching out to the families of victims to offer their condolences. They also said the company refused to meet with them one-on-one without lawyers present.

The families said they were asked to attend an “evening of remembrance” followed by a movie when the Aurora theater reopens on Jan. 17 in invitations sent two days after Christmas.

Disgusting: CO Theater Shooting Victims Kin Lash Out at Theater Over Event Invites

In this July 23, 2012 file photo, James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo. Holmes was being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and facing additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. Credit: AP

“Thanks for making what is a very difficult holiday season that much more difficult. Timing is everything and yours is awful,” they wrote.

The company had no immediate comment.

Cinemark has been renovating the Aurora theater and plans to re-open it Jan. 17, a move the city’s mayor said had widespread support in the community. Gov. John Hickenlooper is among those planning to attend.

The families of some victims have sued Cinemark. The father of the youngest person killed in the shooting, 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, is among them. He didn’t sign the letter but the girl’s grandparents did.

Also Wednesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers said they’re ready for a crucial hearing next week in which prosecutors will outline their case against James Holmes, who is charged with killing 12 people and wounding 70 during a midnight showing of the Batman movie “The Dark Night Rises” on July 20.

This undated photo provided Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office shows Colorado movie theater shooting suspect James Holmes. Credit: AP

It starts Monday and is scheduled to run all week. At its conclusion, state District Judge William B. Sylvester will decide if the evidence is sufficient to put Holmes on trial.

During Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors and defense lawyers also discussed with Sylvester a sealed motion from the prosecution that made some reference to witnesses. Sylvester said he planned to rule on it later in the day but wouldn’t refer to witnesses by name.

Holmes didn’t say anything during the half-hour hearing.

He is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder and hasn’t been asked to enter a plea yet. His lawyers have said he suffers from mental illness.

Next week’s preliminary hearing will give the public its first officially sanctioned look at much of the evidence against Holmes.

Sylvester imposed a gag order shortly after Holmes’ arrest barring attorneys and investigators from speaking publicly about the case, and many documents have been sealed.

The University of Colorado, where Holmes was a graduate student, has also been tight-lipped about the case.

At prosecutors’ request, Sylvester barred the university from releasing records requested by numerous media organizations. Prosecutors argued that the information could jeopardize Holmes’ right to a fair trial. Sylvester initially agreed but amended his order last month to allow the release after media organizations objected in court.

The scene of the violent July 2012 attack (Photo Credit: AP)

Holmes was enrolled in a Ph.D. neuroscience program at the university. Investigators said he began stockpiling firearms and ammunition while taking classes in the spring.

In June, he made threats to a professor and on June 10 filed withdrawal papers after failing a year-end exam, prosecutors said. The next day he saw his school psychiatrist who tried to report him to a campus security committee, according to Holmes’ lawyers.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (50)

CommonSenseTalk
Posted on January 4, 2013 at 12:57am
I’ve got it, sue the federal government for having the second amendment. Man you can make some real money from your dead family members. Better to spend the next 3 to 8 years fighting for money. We are the only country in the world where you sue people because they own the property a crime happened on. The bank really owns it so can you sue them also? When does it end?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
truthnstuff
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 1:23pm
Don’t go if you have a problem. But for the love of God shut the hell up you media whores. I get it……let’s sue somebody.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ResistSocialism
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:13am
That’s so sweet, does the remembrance include free hotdog and a drink?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
liberated_patriot
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 9:42am
you’re gonna tell me that those two pictures are the same “james holmes”?! give me a break people and wake up. This was a government op and so was newtown. They both stink and they have a common denominator which is the libor scandal. Both james holmes’ dad and lanzas’ dad were set to testify in front of the u.s. senate on the libor scandal. How do dumb do they think we are? They will stage another shooting or as many as it takes until they take our guns. How weird is it that as the country implodes financially they want our guns? 9/11 was a bunch of b.s. and osama was dead 8 years ago. Go back to sleep sheeple and keep watching the “news.’ If you only know what you’re being told then they (as in the global elite who run the world) will tell you whatever they want you to believe.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- RRFlyer
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:31am
  Well I sure don’t believe what YOU say
  
  Report this comment
- liberated_patriot
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 11:54am
  good rebuttal.. government BOT.
  
  Report this comment
N37BU6
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 3:21am
Hey! Come watch a FREE movie right where your family members were murdered… that’s right – FREE!

-Be among the first to sit in our brand new bloodstain-free reclining seats!
-Enjoy the new bullet hole-free high definition projection system through your tears of pain!
-Feel the action with our new sound system loud enough to muffle even the loudest gunfire and screaming!

*offer available for a limited time only*

Yeah… pretty tasteless if you ask me. I don’t blame the families for being offended. On the other hand, I don’t blame the company for not wanting to meet one-on-one without legal counsel present. That’s just common sense.

I wonder if they would have still made them pay for the popcorn…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Tri-ox
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:06pm
Huh? How is inviting families to an “evening of remembrance” a “disgusting offer”? And why on Earth are these families suing the theatre chain? I don’t get it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Rald277
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:20pm
  The theater has the money the killer has none. Just another day in modern America.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:26pm
  RALD: The deep pockets routine.
  
  Report this comment
- 13a
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:44pm
  I’m with you, Tri-Ox. Cinemark is not at fault here nor should the company be liable for anyone who was wounded or killed. Everyone in those blue states loves to sue.
  
  Report this comment
- sasquatch08
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 10:23pm
  @Tri-Ox:
  
  As a resident of Aurora, who lived less than 2 blocks from Holmes and less than 2 miles from the theater, perhaps I can shed some light on this: this particular theater was the only one in the area that was a “gun free zone”, posted on all entrances were signs telling CCW holders to leave it in the car. It also lacked armed security.
  
  The lack of armed security is odd, because the theater is located in the same complex as a Chucky Cheese where there was a previous mass shooting years ago. Not to mention, Aurora is NOT the friendliest place to live. It is a relatively high crime area, including violent crime. There’s shootings pretty much all the time on Colfax nor far from the shooters apartment.
  
  Holmes did’t pick the closest theater to where he lived, he picked the 2nd closest one. He also didn’t pick the largest theater in town. It would appear that he targeted this particular theater for having a no guns policy, and for being decent enough in size to kill a good number of people. [Then again, he's nuts so who really knows how he chose his target].
  
  On top of that, both the university and the theater immediately went into damage control mode, which was not appreciated by a lot of local residents.
  
  Other than that, it’s 2013 in the USA. Everyone sues somebody for something these days (at least it seems that way).
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:25am
  The fact of not allowing armed citizens not withstanding.
  Do I not remember that he exited out a back door to the parking lot dressed and armed to re-enter through the same unattended, non alarmed door. There is blame to be had.
  
  Report this comment
- NoNannyState4me
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:55am
  The theater should get sued for infringing on 2nd amendment rights of people to defend themselves if anything.
  
  Report this comment
- katzkiner
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 1:18am
  Look at Holms eyes. Google:Devils Breath aka scopolamine. This boy has been drugged out of his mind. Just like Louhnger. We did many of these type operations in Europe after WWII. Under the influence of scopolamine you will do anything you are told and remember nothing. Standard black ops. These boys are pasteys.
  
  Report this comment
- brianemcfarlane
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 1:58am
  @ Sasquatch— You aren’t exactly factual in your post… All Cinemark theaters don’t allow anyone other than law enforcement officers to carry legal firearms in their theaters (something that would be perceived as being safe by many people, not me) This is NOT the same complex as the Chuck E Cheese murders, that was at approximately Peoria & Iliff which is about 2-3 miles from the theater. Aurora is a big area of land and does have some high crime areas but, relatively that is not that bad of an area…I have worked in that area for over 8 years and have never been a victim of any crime. Colfax is also about 2-3 miles away and IS a relatively high crime area, it also runs the whole metro area east to west. I have lived in the metro area all 50 years of my life.
  
  About the invite… I get the feeling that if the WEREN’T invited they would’ve been outraged as well. It is a no-win situation for Cinemark.
  
  Report this comment
GoodCook
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:48pm
Must have been offered by a loving caring idiot liberal extremist.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Winedude
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:54am
  Yeah right. Only a company headquartered in Texas would do something this cold-hearted and stupid!
  
  Report this comment
toomuchgovt
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:40pm
I still can’t figure out why it is the movie theatre’s fault? Or the gun’s fault? My sympathy is with these people but the blame belongs with the criminal. As for the theater owner having a lawyer present they are suing them, they would be fools to show up without one. This is a fact.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Lt_Scrounge
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:52pm
  As the theater was a gun free zone, they failed to provide adequate security.
  
  Report this comment
Free_Thought
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:39pm
Pull your head out of your a$$ fubared.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:51pm
  A$$? I don’t give money for ass, but to each her own. Again, why cry here, of all places? Cry and whine all you want, snivel and snot all over yourself, but you though here would get you a freebie pass? Why?
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:34pm
  So FREE: What was your previous name before you resurrected yourself on December 21 as Free Thought ?! So much of that goes on around here these days like those phony Troll ads to annoy ….our little anarchist Lefties…our OWS ” anti-capitalists”….
  
  Report this comment
- American Soldier (Separated)
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:20pm
  An anarchist leftist is kind of an oxymoron isn’t it?
  
  Doesn’t the left love big government?
  
  Report this comment
GuruMeditation
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:35pm
Extremely shallow.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RightInSoManyWays
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:27pm
They’re ticked they won’t meet them without lawyers there? They’re friggin suing them! Of course they want lawyers present you blood suckers! Using your familys death to try to make a quick buck?!?! I find that disgusting!!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Free_Thought
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:32pm
  Using a shooting tragedy to further push for more guns is worse you soulless cretin.
- RightInSoManyWays
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:37pm
  Ahh, what? You must be high there pink floyd, try reading my post again. Though I do take attacks from the left as a badge of honor at least try to attack me on something I said haha
  
  Report this comment
- RightInSoManyWays
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:44pm
  Oooooh, I should’ve read on. You’re just a sad troll with nothing to do but get on a site you don’t like and make faceless comments that parrot the things you heard on NPR. Sad really. I truly am sorry that your life has come to needing this to make you feel like you matter.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:10pm
  Freebie, are you not getting the requisite hugs at therapy? Did someone break all of your crayons today? What gives Freebie? Pull up a chair, digress a bit, tell us all how you really feel and quit with the caterwauling into the ether about thing you know absolutely zero about.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:25pm
  FUBARED, Geez, just how deep does this guy keep his head lodged in his fourth point of contact? LACK_OF_FREE_THOUGHT, nice avatar, but where were you in March of 1973? I remember the first time that I heard “Time” on WUSF in Tampa.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:31pm
  Free: ” you soulless cretin.” What ? No ” tea-****** ?” Whas up, bro ?! Just some more of that typical Chicago radical, hate speech…
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:35pm
  LOL Barber2….
  
  You might be right on that. LOL
  
  Report this comment
TIMEBOMB
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:24pm
I’ll use this story to my advantage as well and exploit the massacre at Newtown to reach my ultimate goal,the total banning of guns in the old USA. After you’re all disarmed my brown shirts I mean DHS will bring you to heel and you will submit to your ruler. I have plans for your future and it’s going to be bleak for you,pops told me I’d be president one day and be able to destroy America and I’m succeeding.

I can see pops looking up at me now through the flames,I know he’s so proud of me and all the destruction I’ve wrought, just warms his black heart. Praise be to me BHO.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- toiletclogga
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:52pm
  Very clever!
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:17pm
Weird. I wonder what film they thought would be appropriate?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:26pm
  Natural Born Killers with bloody mary’s? Django with tequila bulls eyes?
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:33pm
  Hi MONK, I was really wondering the same thing the first time I read the story.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:46pm
  Apologies Monk, got ahead of meself messing with the likes of Jihad Jerk and Freebie Thought. Not sure how to delete a post, but probably would in hindsight to this one- although Django and bulls eyes do seem to go together…
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:16pm
  Not a problem Fubared….. you can report your own post and ask that it be deleted. I’ve done it a few times to myself. Just don’t make a habit of it since the moderators most likely have a tough job.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:21pm
  Hi RJJ,
  
  How are things today? I got a double whammy…. got 2 job rejection e-mails this morning.
  
  Report this comment
Rowgue
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:16pm
I admit the timing could have been better. The response seems way over the top and ridiculous though. Decline and explain why if you feel you need to. Don’t try to portray the movie theatre as somehow at fault for the behavior of some random psycho.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Free_Thought
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:26pm
  Way over the top? Do you even listen to yourself? Next lets invite the parents of sandy hook to do cut and paste in the classroom where their kids were murdered. Your insensitivity is the reason you and the ultra conservatives are looked at with disgust.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:37pm
  Freebie
  Bad taste would have been a scratch and sniff after a game of dodgeball. Freebie, what is with the constant crying to strangers? Does this look like a OWS outreach site? Why cry and whine here, of all places?
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:53pm
  Is ultra con the new neo con? We need a con man to keep the cons straight. Uber con next? Super uber ultra con the new new extra fresh neo con? What a solid wanker you are freebie. Word and stuff.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 1:56pm
  free
  
  All in all just another brick in the wall
  Is there anybody in there?
  
  Report this comment
John655
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:16pm
Holmes looks as crazy as a loon, but that does not mean he doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong. Let’s get sparky warmed up and ready for him.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
sizzler2220
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:12pm
People are getting too sensitive about everything.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:51pm
  Mirder? What is that euro for something food related?
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:24pm
  Now where did Freebie’s posts go? Huh.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.