Colorado gunman’s psychiatrist reports behavior to colleagues

09:17 02/08/2012 » Society

Colorado gunman’s psychiatrist reports behavior to colleagues

The psychiatrist treating the accused Colorado movie theater gunman was so concerned about his behavior that she mentioned it to her colleagues, saying he could potentially be a danger to others, CNN affiliate KMGH reported Wednesday, citing sources with knowledge of the investigation.

According to CNN, The psychiatrist's concerns surfaced in early June, nearly six weeks before the July 20 killings inside a movie theater in Aurora, sources told the Denver station.

Twelve people were killed and 58 wounded when the gunman opened fire during a screening of the new Batman film. James Holmes, 24, was charged Monday with murder and attempted murder in the case; he also faces two weapons charges.

A court document filed Friday revealed Holmes was a patient of University of Colorado psychiatrist Lynne Fenton before the attack.
Sources told KMGH that Fenton contacted several members of a "behavioral evaluation and threat assessment" team to say Holmes could potentially be a danger to others, the station reported.

The "BETA" team consists of "key" staff members from various university departments who have specific expertise in dealing with assessing potential threats on campus, the school says on its website.

Holmes was a doctoral student at the university's Anschutz Medical Campus until June, when he withdrew from the program.
Sources told KMGH that university officials never contacted Aurora police with Fenton's concerns before the July 20 killings.

One source also told the station that the team may not have been convened because while Fenton had "serious concerns, there may not have been an immediate threat."

It's not clear if Fenton continued treating Homes after he dropped out of school, whether she referred him to another medical professional or had any further contact with him, KMGH reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.

Michael Carrigan, chairman of the CU board of regents, told KMGH he did not know if Holmes had ever been discussed by the BETA team, KMGH reported.

"It's the first I'm hearing about this," he reportedly told the station.

Authorities have remained silent about a possible motive in the case.

Prosecutors say they will begin turning over thousands of pages of discovery in the next couple of days. The defense said it needs this information to prepare for the hearing.

Source: Panorama.am

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