CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Colorado theater shooter James Holmes will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The same jury that convicted him of killing 12 people and injuring 70 more in a theater attack three years ago failed to agree on the death penalty sought by prosecutors.
A death sentence required a unanimous verdict. Holmes will serve without the possibility of parole.
Arlene Holmes, who had pleaded for her son’s life, fell upon her husband’s shoulder and began to sob silently.
Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica Ghawi was shot in the head by Holmes, shook her head “No” and then dropped it into her hands, crying.
Ashley Moser, whose 6-year-old daughter was killed, sat in her wheelchair after being paralyzed by Holmes’ bullets. She began shaking her head and lay it on the back of the wheelchair of Caleb Medley, another paralyzed victim.
Victims’ families began streaming out the court before the judge finished reading the verdicts on all of the counts and the wails of their horror and heartbreak could be heard through the door.
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