Colorado Shooting Suspect's Psychiatrist Warned The School Of His Behavior Weeks Earlier
The psychiatrist treating alleged Colorado movie theater shooter James Holmes reportedly notified authorities about his concerning behavior nearly six weeks before the fatal shooting but nothing was done because Holmes was in the process of dropping out of school.
Dr. Lynne Fenton was so concerned about Holmes' behavior she contacted the University of Colorado's Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment program — a group of university staff members who are trained to assess potential threats on campus, ABC 7 News reported Wednesday.
“Fenton made initial phone calls about engaging the BETA team” at the beginning of June but it “never came together” because while Fenton was contacting BETA Holmes began the process of dropping out of school, a source told ABC 7 News.
Just weeks before he allegedly opened fire on a crowded theater of Batman fans attending the midnight premier of "The Dark Knight Rises," Holmes dropped out of one of the country's most prestigious neuroscience PhD programs.
When he withdrew from the program, BETA officials "had no control over him," a source told ABC 7 News.
However, his abrupt departure from the university might not have been the only thing that kept BETA from working with him.
Even though Fenton might have been concerned, "there may not have been an immediate threat," which is why BETA didn't step in, a source told the television station.
While no one knows what Holmes did or said to spark Fenton's concern, it would have had to be something tangible.
“He would have to tell her he had taken steps to make it happen,” a source told ABC 7 News.
BETA officials reportedly never contacted Aurora, Colo., police about Fenton's concerns.
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