Threats before, after other 'Dark Knight' showings, authorities said - CNN

Threats before, after other 'Dark Knight' showings, authorities said

By Joe Sterling, CNN

Updated 1312 GMT (2112 HKT) July 25, 2012

The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion. He is accused of opening fire in a movie theater July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 70. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/21/us/gallery/colorado-mourning-victims/index.html" target="_blank">More photos: Mourning the victims of the Colorado theater massacre</a>
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion. He is accused of opening fire in a movie theater July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 70. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. More photos: Mourning the victims of the Colorado theater massacre
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Police release the official photo from Holmes' booking after the shooting.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Police release the official photo from Holmes' booking after the shooting.
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Holmes often had a blank stare during his July 23, 2012, court appearance, seeming to be in a daze.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Holmes often had a blank stare during his July 23, 2012, court appearance, seeming to be in a daze.
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Victims and their relatives and journalists watch the proceedings in 2012.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Victims and their relatives and journalists watch the proceedings in 2012.
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Flags fly at half-staff on July 23, 2012, at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial, Colorado, where the movie theater shooting suspect had his first court appearance. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Flags fly at half-staff on July 23, 2012, at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial, Colorado, where the movie theater shooting suspect had his first court appearance. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty.
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Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers talks to reporters July 23, 2012, before heading into the courthouse. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers talks to reporters July 23, 2012, before heading into the courthouse. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty.
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Family members of the victims arrive at the courthouse July 23, 2012, for the suspect's first court appearance.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Family members of the victims arrive at the courthouse July 23, 2012, for the suspect's first court appearance.
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The Century Aurora 16 multiplex in Aurora becomes a place of horror after a gunman opened fire July 20, 2012, in a crowded theater.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
The Century Aurora 16 multiplex in Aurora becomes a place of horror after a gunman opened fire July 20, 2012, in a crowded theater.
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Holmes is accused of opening fire during a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition, police say.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Holmes is accused of opening fire during a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition, police say.
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Police investigate outside the Century 16 multiplex July 21, 2012, a day after the mass shooting.
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Police investigate outside the Century 16 multiplex July 21, 2012, a day after the mass shooting.
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Agents search the suspect's car outside the theater.
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Agents search the suspect's car outside the theater.
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Aurora police escort a sand-filled dump truck containing improvised explosive devices removed from Holmes' booby-trapped apartment on July 21, 2012. Authorities have said they believe the suspect rigged his place before leaving for the movie theater.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Aurora police escort a sand-filled dump truck containing improvised explosive devices removed from Holmes' booby-trapped apartment on July 21, 2012. Authorities have said they believe the suspect rigged his place before leaving for the movie theater.
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Police break a window at the suspect's apartment July 20, 2012, in Aurora.
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Police break a window at the suspect's apartment July 20, 2012, in Aurora.
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Law enforcement officers speak with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, center, outside the suspect's apartment July 21, 2012.
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Law enforcement officers speak with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, center, outside the suspect's apartment July 21, 2012.
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Law enforcement officers prepare to disarm the booby-trapped apartment July 21, 2012.
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Law enforcement officers prepare to disarm the booby-trapped apartment July 21, 2012.
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Officials tow cars outside Holmes' apartment July 21, 2012. Police disassembled devices and trip wires set up in the apartment.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Officials tow cars outside Holmes' apartment July 21, 2012. Police disassembled devices and trip wires set up in the apartment.
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Officers prepare to place an explosive device inside the apartment.
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Officers prepare to place an explosive device inside the apartment.
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Debris flies out a window, right, after law enforcement officers detonate an explosive device inside the apartment July 21, 2012.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Debris flies out a window, right, after law enforcement officers detonate an explosive device inside the apartment July 21, 2012.
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People mourn the victims during a vigil behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
People mourn the victims during a vigil behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora.
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A woman grieves during a vigil for victims behind the theater.
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A woman grieves during a vigil for victims behind the theater.
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A distraught woman receives counseling from the Rev. Quincy Shannon, left, in front of Gateway High School in Aurora, where the families of the missing met after the shooting.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
A distraught woman receives counseling from the Rev. Quincy Shannon, left, in front of Gateway High School in Aurora, where the families of the missing met after the shooting.
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Lin Gan of Aurora holds back tears as she speaks to reporters about her experience in the Century 16 theater.
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Lin Gan of Aurora holds back tears as she speaks to reporters about her experience in the Century 16 theater.
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People embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers.
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People embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers.
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Investigators work on evidence near the apartment of James Holmes on July 20, 2012.
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Investigators work on evidence near the apartment of James Holmes on July 20, 2012.
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Members of the Aurora Police Department SWAT unit walk near the Holmes' apartment.
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Members of the Aurora Police Department SWAT unit walk near the Holmes' apartment.
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Television news crews gather in front of the home of Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of suspect James Holmes, in San Diego on July 21, 2012.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Television news crews gather in front of the home of Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of suspect James Holmes, in San Diego on July 21, 2012.
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A popcorn box lies on the ground outside the Century 16 movie theater.
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A popcorn box lies on the ground outside the Century 16 movie theater.
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Adariah Legarreta, 4, is comforted by her grandmother Rita Abeyta near the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.
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Adariah Legarreta, 4, is comforted by her grandmother Rita Abeyta near the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.
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Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sportscaster, was one of the victims.
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Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sportscaster, was one of the victims.
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A woman waits for news outside Gateway High School, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16.
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A woman waits for news outside Gateway High School, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16.
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Aurora police chief Daniel J. Oates speaks at a press conference near the Century 16 Theater on July 20, 2012.
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Aurora police chief Daniel J. Oates speaks at a press conference near the Century 16 Theater on July 20, 2012.
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Agents search the trash container outside the suspect's apartment in Aurora.
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Agents search the trash container outside the suspect's apartment in Aurora.
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A Federal ATF officer carries protective gear onsite at the home of the shooting suspect.
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A Federal ATF officer carries protective gear onsite at the home of the shooting suspect.
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President Obama speaks on the shootings at a July 20, 2012, event in Fort Myers, Florida.
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President Obama speaks on the shootings at a July 20, 2012, event in Fort Myers, Florida.
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Moviegoers are interviewed at the Century Aurora 16.
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Moviegoers are interviewed at the Century Aurora 16.
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Officers gather at the theater July 20, 2012.
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Officers gather at the theater July 20, 2012.
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Investigators were a common sight at the theater on July 20, 2012.
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Investigators were a common sight at the theater on July 20, 2012.
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Authorities gather at the shooting suspect's apartment building in Aurora. Police broke a second-floor window to look for explosives the suspect claimed were in the apartment.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Authorities gather at the shooting suspect's apartment building in Aurora. Police broke a second-floor window to look for explosives the suspect claimed were in the apartment.
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Screaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who wore a gas mask and randomly shot as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Screaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who wore a gas mask and randomly shot as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.
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Onlookers gather outside the Century Aurora 16 theater.
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Onlookers gather outside the Century Aurora 16 theater.
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A woman sits on top of her car near the crime scene.
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A woman sits on top of her car near the crime scene.
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Police block access to the Town Center mall after the shooting.
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Police block access to the Town Center mall after the shooting.
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Cell phone video taken by someone at the theater showed scores of people screaming and fleeing the building. Some, like this man, had blood on their clothes.
Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre
Cell phone video taken by someone at the theater showed scores of people screaming and fleeing the building. Some, like this man, had blood on their clothes.
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Witnesses told KUSA the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire.
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Witnesses told KUSA the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire.
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What is believed to be the suspect's car is examined after the shooting.
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What is believed to be the suspect's car is examined after the shooting.
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Story highlights

  • A man in Maine said he wanted to shoot a former employer
  • An Arizona man startled patrons and created "mass hysteria"
  • In California, a man uttered threats and references to the Colorado shooting
Three people who voiced threats during and after showings of the "The Dark Knight Rises" in New England and the West have been arrested, authorities said.
News of these incidents -- occurring in Maine, Arizona and California -- emerged in the aftermath of last week's massacre in suburban Denver. A gunman opened fire at an audience watching the film in an Aurora, Colorado, theater last week, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more.
In Maine, state police stopped Timothy Courtois, 49, of Biddeford, Maine, for speeding on Sunday and found an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns and several boxes of ammunition in his car. Police also discovered news clippings of the Colorado shooting.
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The man told police he attended the Batman film in Saco, Maine, on Saturday with a loaded gun in his backpack and told authorities he was traveling to Derry, New Hampshire, to shoot a former employer.
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Authorities found ammunition and other firearms, including a machine gun, at Courtois' home. He has been charged with speeding and possessing a concealed weapon.
In Arizona, a man was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and threatening and intimidating after creating a commotion at a showing of the film Friday night in Sierra Vista, the Cochise County sheriff's office said on its Facebook page.
Michael William Borboa, 26, entered the theater "intoxicated" and carrying a large backpack, the office said.
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Authorities said he acted "strangely" and startled patrons during the film.
"When one subject confronted Borboa, mass hysteria occurred and 50 plus patrons ran from the the theater," authorities said.
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Several off-duty Border Patrol agents "tackled" the man and a sheriff's deputy removed him from the theater. Police found an empty alcohol container and a half empty blueberry moonshine bottle in his backpack.
In Los Angeles County, California, authorities arrested a man at a theater in Norwalk on Sunday. The man, identified as Clark Tabor, uttered threats and made references to the Colorado shooting. He was arrested for making terroristic threats. Authorities found a backpack but did not find a weapon in it. They also went to his home but found nothing there.
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