The former graduate student accused of opening fire at a Denver-area screening of the latest "Batman" film, killing 12 people, was formally charged on Monday with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder.
James Holmes, 24, was formally charged during his second court appearance since his arrest after the massacre during a packed showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" shortly after midnight on July 20.
The rampage left 12 people dead and 58 injured, including several who remain in critical condition.
Holmes, wearing jail garb and with his hair still dyed orange but with the color fading to pink in places, sat impassively at a table with two defense lawyers through the 45 minute hearing.
But he looked more alert than during his first court appearance a week ago, when he looked dazed and groggy. The courtroom was packed with members of the media and family members of victims.
Holmes spoke only once on Monday, answering "yes" when Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester asked if he understood the charges against him.
The judge set a pre-trial hearing in the case for Sept. 27 and tentatively scheduled a preliminary hearing for Holmes during the week of Nov. 13.
Prosecutors essentially charged Holmes with two murder counts for each victim - one standard first-degree murder charge plus one count of murder with extreme indifference.
In all, prosecutors have charged Holmes with 142 criminal counts in the shooting, the 24 murder and 116 attempted murder counts plus one count of possession of an explosive device and one count of committing a crime of violence.
The charges mean Holmes is eligible to face the death penalty, although prosecutors have not yet said whether they would seek it in the sensational case.
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