CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Colorado theater gunman James Holmes said he called a mental health hotline minutes before the 2012 massacre, thinking someone might be able to talk him out of killing people watching a movie.
In a videotape played for jurors on Tuesday, Holmes says the phone call was disconnected before anyone answered.
Holmes says he lingered outside a moment, then walked into the theater, threw a tear gas canister and began firing into the crowd.
Holmes says he was “on autopilot” during the shootings. He says he heard one scream and saw one gunshot victim but can’t recall any feelings or sensations.
The videotape is from a psychiatrist’s sanity evaluation of Holmes conducted last year. Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people and injuring 70.
