The alleged shooter at the theater massacre in Aurora, Col., this summer spent two months assembling an arsenal for the attack, detectives explained at a hearing on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. On the second day of hearings this week to determine whether James Holmes, 25, should stand trial, law enforcement officers described Holmes’ preparations leading up to the attack.
These preparations, which officials said began on May 10 with the online purchase of two tear gas grenades, included also purchasing weapons and ammunition, targets, body armor and chemicals.
Holmes also bought two Glock handguns, a shotgun and an AR-15 rifle, along with 6,295 rounds of ammunition, targets, body armor and chemicals, prosecutors said…
He dyed his hair bright orange, then bought a scope and non-firing dummy bullets on July 1, the visit and the new hair color documented in security video.
Finally, he purchased glycerin and potassium permanganate – chemicals that could combine to create fire – from a Denver science store. At some point, he also improvised napalm, as well as thermite, a substance which burns so hot that water can’t extinguish the blaze.
