James Holmes is one step closer to being sentenced to death for opening fire on movie theater-goers during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” more than three years ago.

Holmes was convicted of killing 12 people and injuring 70 when he opened fire in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado in 2012 during a midnight showing of Batman. He was found guilty of first-degree murder earlier this month.

In this July 23, 2012 file photo, James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo. Credit: AP

The verdict was the second phase of sentencing for the 27-year-old as the prosecution is seeking the death penalty, which requires a third and final phase. During that phase, jurors will determine between the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Holmes initially pled not guilty by reason of insanity.