A victim's bloodied flip flops, bullet-pierced soda cups and chilling trails of blood: Never-before-seen evidence photos from inside the movie theater where James Holmes murdered 12 innocent victims

  • On Thursday, the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office released hundreds of pictures from the Colorado movie theater shooting 
  • The images were released one month after convicted gunman James Holmes, 27, was sentenced to life in prison 
  • Holmes killed 12 people and injured more than 70 others when he opened fire on a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises at a Century 16 multiplex in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012  

For the first time, the public is seeing inside the bullet-ridden movie theater where a demented James Holmes opened fire, raining terror on hundreds of innocent lives.

Holmes, 27, was sentenced to life in prison last month for the mass shooting which killed 12 and injured more than 70 three years ago. Now that the trial is over, prosecutors decided to release hundreds of evidence photos on Thursday that show the aftermath of the theater bloodbath, as well as the booby-trap Holmes set up for police back at his apartment.

The heartbreaking photos taken by investigators tell a story of how the violence on-screen quickly turned to reality for the innocent theatergoers gathered for a midnight screening of The Dark Knight rises on July 20, 2012.

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The Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office on Thursday released hundreds of evidence photos gathered for the trial of Aurora, Colorado theater shooter James Holmes 

The Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office on Thursday released hundreds of evidence photos gathered for the trial of Aurora, Colorado theater shooter James Holmes 

Holmes killed 12 and injured more than 70 when he opened fire on a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in July 2012 

Holmes killed 12 and injured more than 70 when he opened fire on a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in July 2012 

Holmes fired indiscriminately on the theater and his bullets pierced holes in the walls, seats and even bags of popcorn and cups of soda 

Blood coated the shoes of the victims and caked the ground as they all ran for the exits. In the picture above, one victim's pink flip-flop is seen left behind in the confusion 

Blood coated the shoes of the victims and caked the ground as they all ran for the exits. In the picture above, one victim's pink flip-flop is seen left behind in the confusion 

In the panic, bags of popcorn and candy were thrown onto the ground as the 400 or so in the theater attempted to flee to safety 

In the panic, bags of popcorn and candy were thrown onto the ground as the 400 or so in the theater attempted to flee to safety 

Blood spattered napkins lay on the ground next to a pile of spilt popcorn and the lid to a soda cup inside theater 9 

Blood spattered napkins lay on the ground next to a pile of spilt popcorn and the lid to a soda cup inside theater 9 

An estimated 400 people were packed into the theater the night of the shooting, to see one of the first showings of the film The Dark Knight Rises 

An estimated 400 people were packed into the theater the night of the shooting, to see one of the first showings of the film The Dark Knight Rises 

White tape marks show where bullet holes struck the purple-upholstered seats of the movie theater. Holmes used three weapons to rain gunfire on the crowd of innocent theatergoers

White tape marks show where bullet holes struck the purple-upholstered seats of the movie theater. Holmes used three weapons to rain gunfire on the crowd of innocent theatergoers

A pool of blood that drained over the edge of a row has dried in this disturbing and graphic photo from inside the targeted movie theater 

A pool of blood that drained over the edge of a row has dried in this disturbing and graphic photo from inside the targeted movie theater 

White tape marks cover the theater, showing the indiscriminate way Holmes fired upon the 400 people seated in theater 9 in an attempt to take as many lives as possible. 

The bullet holes punch through the theater's upholstered seats, walls and even a cup which is seen drained of its soda. In the panic to leave the theater, and evade the barrel of Holmes' gun, the victims didn't have time to politely set down their popcorn. Instead - kernels and even candy went flying and coat the floor of the theater, in some areas getting a gruesome coating of blood. 

But perhaps the most horrifying scene is the pictures from immediately outside the theater. As the horde of theatergoers fled the theater, their shoes picked up the blood of the injured, and the pavement outside the exits were painted red with bloody footprints. In the confusion, one of the victims left behind a pair of pink flip flops. 

Some of the victims chose to flee through the main entrance to the movie theater, toppling garbage cans as they ran from the gunfire 

Some of the victims chose to flee through the main entrance to the movie theater, toppling garbage cans as they ran from the gunfire 

One victim's pink-flip flops were left behind on the sidewalk where one of Holmes huge rifles was discarded. Police arrived on the scene soon after gunshots rang out and Holmes was taken into custody that night

One victim's pink-flip flops were left behind on the sidewalk where one of Holmes huge rifles was discarded. Police arrived on the scene soon after gunshots rang out and Holmes was taken into custody that night

As the victims fled out of the theater to get help, they left a trail of blood that painted the light sidewalk a dark crimson red 

As the victims fled out of the theater to get help, they left a trail of blood that painted the light sidewalk a dark crimson red 

Dark clothing is seen left behind in a pile next to a pool of blood outside the movie theater in the aftermath of the deadly attack 

Dark clothing is seen left behind in a pile next to a pool of blood outside the movie theater in the aftermath of the deadly attack 

James Holmes' car is seen above. He parked the white car outside the exit in order to slip out and suit up for the attack about 20 minutes into the film 

James Holmes' car is seen above. He parked the white car outside the exit in order to slip out and suit up for the attack about 20 minutes into the film 

Holmes was sentenced to life in prison last month for the shooting which killed twelve in the Denver suburb of Aurora three years ago

Holmes was sentenced to life in prison last month for the shooting which killed twelve in the Denver suburb of Aurora three years ago

The terrifying mass murder happened at one of the midnight showings of The Dark Knight Rises at the Century 16 multiplex at the Town Center shopping center in Aurora, Colorado - a suburb of Denver.

According to investigators, Holmes bought a ticket to the screening, and found himself a seat in the front row of theater 9.

About 20 minutes into the film, he got up and slipped out through the emergency exit, using a plastic tablecloth holder to prop open the door so he could regain entry.

Holmes then went to his car, parked right by the door, and suited up in tactical gear and gas mask, and armed himself with three guns - a shotgun, an semi-automatic rifle and a Glock handgun.

About ten minutes later he went back into the theater where the hundreds packed in thought his get-up might be a joke or perhaps some sort of stunt to promote the movie. Plus, many of the theatergoers had even dressed up in costume to attend the event, so Holmes' gear wasn't too disconcerting.

But when he started throwing smoke cans and firing off the shotgun, the pain and the noise snapped everyone into the horrifying reality of the situation.

According to court documents, Holmes bought a ticket for the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises and took a seat in the front row of theater 9 

According to court documents, Holmes bought a ticket for the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises and took a seat in the front row of theater 9 

Holmes watched about 20 minutes of the film before slipping out the front exit door, which he propped open with a plastic tablecloth holder 

Holmes watched about 20 minutes of the film before slipping out the front exit door, which he propped open with a plastic tablecloth holder 

Out in his car, Holmes changed into black tactical gear and loaded his weapons - a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun  

Out in his car, Holmes changed into black tactical gear and loaded his weapons - a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun  

About ten minutes later, he emerged back in the theater wearing his tactical gear and armed with his three weapons

About ten minutes later, he emerged back in the theater wearing his tactical gear and armed with his three weapons

Those in the theater were not too panicked to see Holmes come back in wearing a gas mask since many of them had dressed up in costume to attend the showing  

Those in the theater were not too panicked to see Holmes come back in wearing a gas mask since many of them had dressed up in costume to attend the showing  

One of the first things that Holmes did back in the theater was set off a couple of canisters that produced smoke to confuse the theatergoers 

One of the first things that Holmes did back in the theater was set off a couple of canisters that produced smoke to confuse the theatergoers 

He then started firing at the back of the theater, aiming first at those seated and then following them as they tried to escape down the aisles 

He then started firing at the back of the theater, aiming first at those seated and then following them as they tried to escape down the aisles 

Bullets hit the seats and the walls. The bullets went through the walls to hit three people in an adjacent theater watching the same movie 

Bullets hit the seats and the walls. The bullets went through the walls to hit three people in an adjacent theater watching the same movie 

Holmes first shot at the ground with his shotgun, then switched to his semi-automatic rifle, before finishing the shooting with his handgun 

Holmes first shot at the ground with his shotgun, then switched to his semi-automatic rifle, before finishing the shooting with his handgun 

Overall, Holmes fired 76 shots inside the theater, including six from his shotgun, 65 from his semi-automatic rifle and five from his handgun

Overall, Holmes fired 76 shots inside the theater, including six from his shotgun, 65 from his semi-automatic rifle and five from his handgun

Twelve innocent lives were taken, in addition to more than 70 others who were injured in the deadly attack in July 2012 

Twelve innocent lives were taken, in addition to more than 70 others who were injured in the deadly attack in July 2012 

Soon after the shots rang out, someone pulled the fire alarm and staff came over the intercom telling the other theaters to evacuate 

Soon after the shots rang out, someone pulled the fire alarm and staff came over the intercom telling the other theaters to evacuate 

After firing a shot in the ceiling, Holmes started aiming at the back of the theater, shooting at those seated and then targeting the ones trying to flee down the aisles.

Some of his bullets hit the walls on the side of the theater, and even hit thee people who were watching the same movie in adjacent theater eight.

Soon after the gunshots rang out, someone pulled the fire alarm and chaos broke out through the entire theater complex as staff called for an evacuation.

The first call to 911 was placed at 12:39pm, and law enforcement arrived on the scene within 90 seconds. What they found was streams of people coming out of the theater, many bleeding profusely onto the sidewalk from bullet wounds. They also found gun magazines outside the theater near Holmes' car.

After the shooting, Holmes was found outside the theater by police who at first mistook him for one of their own due to his black tactical gear. He was taken into custody without incident, and even told police how he had booby-trapped his apartment nearby with a bevy of bombs and incendiaries.

Overall, Holmes fired 76 inside the theater, including six from his shotgun, 65 from his semi-automatic rifle and five form his handgun.

When police arrived on the scene, they took Holmes into custody - but not after initially mistaking him for one of their own due to his tactical gear 

When police arrived on the scene, they took Holmes into custody - but not after initially mistaking him for one of their own due to his tactical gear 

Above, a look inside Holmes' car which was parked right outside the exit of theater 9. Smashed glass litters the passenger seat in this picture

Above, a look inside Holmes' car which was parked right outside the exit of theater 9. Smashed glass litters the passenger seat in this picture

A single bullet is seen on the floor of the car, which is littered in glass from the shattered passenger side window 

A single bullet is seen on the floor of the car, which is littered in glass from the shattered passenger side window 

Holmes' also stashed another handgun in the side pocket of one of the car's doors 

Holmes' also stashed another handgun in the side pocket of one of the car's doors 

Blood coats a cricket photo found left behind at the scene of the deadly mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado 

Blood coats a cricket photo found left behind at the scene of the deadly mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado 

Popcorn, bloody napkins, a cup of ice cream and the lid of a soda cup litter the stairs on theater 9 at the Aurora, Colorado Century 16 

Popcorn, bloody napkins, a cup of ice cream and the lid of a soda cup litter the stairs on theater 9 at the Aurora, Colorado Century 16 

Also released on Thursday were pictured from inside Holmes' apartment, which show how he planned to take more lives by setting up a booby-trap of explosives and incendiaries for police.

After arresting Holmes, the 27-year-old revealed to police that his nearby apartment was rigged with explosives and incendiaries intended to kill anyone who opened the front door.  

The pictures, some of which were taken by a bomb disposal robot, show the carpeted floor of Holmes' apartment littered with about 20 black spherical bombs, which are rigged together with a tangle of fuse wires. 

Also seen are pickle jars packed with napalm and bullets that would have torn through the home if ignited.  Nearly a dozen liter soda bottles filled with gasoline rest on the floor, along with a dusting of white gunpowder, intended to catch fire and speed up the process. 

Luckily, no one was hurt by Holmes' mouse-trap of bombs. The apartment and surrounding buildings were evacuated while bomb experts carefully disengaged the explosives with the help of a robot. 

New pictures have been released showing the scene police found inside James Holmes' apartment after the Aurora theater shooting 

New pictures have been released showing the scene police found inside James Holmes' apartment after the Aurora theater shooting 

The photos show the floor of Holmes' home littered with a complex tangle of home-made bombs, gunpowder and incendiaries - tied together with fuse chords

The photos show the floor of Holmes' home littered with a complex tangle of home-made bombs, gunpowder and incendiaries - tied together with fuse chords

White gunpowder is seen above scattered on the floor, designed to catch fire and help the rest of the explosives catch fire and explode

White gunpowder is seen above scattered on the floor, designed to catch fire and help the rest of the explosives catch fire and explode

Liter bottles filled with gasoline and gunpowder are spread out along the floor and would further accelerate the flames when they caught fire

Liter bottles filled with gasoline and gunpowder are spread out along the floor and would further accelerate the flames when they caught fire

Holmes had a Batman mask hanging up behind his TV, a dark object considering he chose to attack a midnight screening of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises 

Holmes had a Batman mask hanging up behind his TV, a dark object considering he chose to attack a midnight screening of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises 

It appears that Holmes intended to blow up the apartment after he left for the movie theater by planning two ways to start the fire remotely.

The first was a trip cord connected to the front door. After he left the apartment, Holmes started a recording in his apartment that was 40 minutes of silence followed by blaring music.

He thought the noise would prompt one of his neighbors to call police and that responding officers would break into the home through the front door, starting off a series of explosions.

The other plan was a remote control that he left outside his apartment, next to a remote-controlled toy car. If police didn't respond to the noise complaint. He thought someone would see the car and try to play with it using the remote, which was in fact hiding a remote detonator. 

Neither plan worked, though one neighbor did say she tried knocking on Holmes' door around midnight when she grew tired of his music. She got no answer on the door but did not report the music to police.

The pictures also include shots from inside Holmes' bedroom, which was left in disarray the night he left to carry out the mass shooting

The pictures also include shots from inside Holmes' bedroom, which was left in disarray the night he left to carry out the mass shooting

Police and FBI teams broke into the house through the window in Holmes' bedroom. Above, shattered glass seen in the room next to a poster for the cult classic Pulp Fiction 

Police and FBI teams broke into the house through the window in Holmes' bedroom. Above, shattered glass seen in the room next to a poster for the cult classic Pulp Fiction 

Gary Smith, a bomb expert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told KUSA about the process of securing the apartment.   

'No, I really wasn't too scared,' he said. 'It doesn't surprise me to run across anything anywhere really. It's just a matter of time before something like that ends up here, kind of the way we look at it, kind of worst case scenario, you always try to think ahead.'

In addition to the booby-trap of bombs, the pictures from inside Holmes' home include a few items that shed light on his life before the mass murder.

A name tag from the University of Iowa graduate program bears Holmes' name, pointing out his past life in academia. Elsewhere, a binder is seen propped up against a backpack, decorated with stickers in the shape of bullet holes. By the time he carried out the attack, Holmes had already stopped going to neuroscience classes at the University of Colorado.

Several posters are also hung up in Holmes' apartment including one for the comedy Anchorman and another for the cult classic Pulp Fiction - which shows John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson holding up handguns. But one seemingly-benign drinking poster holds a darker meaning in the aftermath of the attack. It is a play on a motivational poster and shows a tequila shot with the caption: 'Challenge: When life presents a challenge...take a shot.'

Even more spooky is a Batman mask which was found sitting on the top of Holmes' flatscreen TV. It was a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, that Holmes chose to target.  

Holmes was sentenced for the mass shooting on August 27, and was given a life in jail sentence for each of the 12 victims as well as an additional 3,318 years in jail for the rest of the people who were targeted by Holmes in the theater. 

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