Did this Holmes guy have an accomplice?

[SimpleMan]

Sharpton had a young man on his show who seemed to be trying to say that he saw someone prop the door open for the gunman. He said that he his friend were on the second row in the theater. Suddenly, some guy on the first row took a phone call and then went to the back exit, propped the door open, and appeared to motion for someone to come in. A few minutes later the gunman showed up dressed in full body armor, gas mask, etc.

The guy actually interviewing the young man seemed oblivious to what the young man was actually saying. He rushed him along to the part about the actual shooting...totally ignoring the obvious.

The interview starts at 49:51 into the show. I recorded it on the DVR, but I have no idea how to post it here.

[quinnox]

1. that is interesting, who knows for sure

I suspect the authorities are investigating all leads. Other news reports apparently say he did it alone and entered the theater beforehand and propped the door himself, but I can see where there could be confusion in the first reports. Maybe he did have an accomplice.

[PoliticAverse]

2. The police are saying the shooter bought a ticket, entered the theater,...

propped the exit door open, went to his car, got his gear then returned through the
exit door.

[SimpleMan]

4. Maybe...

...but that doesn't explain the phone call or the guy motioning at someone out the door.

[flamingdem]

11. Phone call was staged, the gesturing was imagined or also meant to confuse nt

[DURHAM D]

7. That doesn't seem possible

because it would take a long time to get all of his gear on.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. More than 'a few minutes'?

An average person, not paying particular attention, could easily call what was actually 15 minutes "a few minutes".

[malaise]

3. I saw that

Very interesting

[gvstn]

5. I heard the guy earlier today on CNN

He definitely implied an accomplice.

I'm wondering if he was confused and it was the shooter himself that took the phone call (real or pretend) and propped the door open.

Also, what about the "timed" loud music at the shooter's apartment? Was he hoping a cop would enter the booby trapped apartment to quiet the noise and trigger the bombs to create a diversion that would slow the response to the movie theatre?

With facts coming so slowly there is plenty to speculate on.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. According to CBS News I watched about an hour ago...

"yes" to this:

"Also, what about the "timed" loud music at the shooter's apartment? Was he hoping a cop would enter the booby trapped apartment to quiet the noise and trigger the bombs to create a diversion that would slow the response to the movie theatre?"

[gvstn]

20. Thanks

The second to last paragraph here is exactly what I was thinking. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57477098/police-colo-shooter-james-holmes-set-up-elaborate-bomb-in-apartment-as-distraction/

nvestigators now believe that Holmes used a timer to set off loud techno music at the apartment just before midnight. It was meant to spur a noise complaint to police. The ruse theoretically would have drawn them into the apartment building, detonating a firebomb and then drawing all available police and rescue units to the other side of town before the shooting at the theater started. That would have allowed him more time to kill more people and left a much smaller police response to the theater shootings.

[DURHAM D]

6. I have been waiting all day for someone to explain how he got in.

Theater doors open out. They are usually well built. It would be extremely hard to break "in". In some theaters if an exit door is opened it sounds an alarm.

If he let himself out he could not quickly come back in given how much gear he was wearing.

[cali]

14. I read that he bought a ticket. simple as that.

[DURHAM D]

16. Not at all simple

[Tsiyu]

8. I read two reports of the same situation

One poster said they heard this on radio interviewing a movie-goer who saw this, another said they saw someone say this in a local Denver TV interview shortly after the shooting.

Seems they would want to follow up on this, eh?


Glad someone got a capture of this, as I was wondering if it was just made up.

[Tsiyu]

13. Also wanted to add

Someone might have actually gotten a call and went to open the door but was merely trying to help a buddy get in free - maybe someone who couldn't score a ticket. Could be a totally unrelated event, but worth pursuing.

[flamingdem]

10. His narrative fits what they know, the guy went out, left something to keep the door ajar

The difference is that the witness doesn't realize the shooter staged the phone call and was the same guy.

If he did he might feel a tad bad for having missed this cue. He said he thought he was gesturing to someone.
That makes no sense, especially since it was 20 minutes later that he came back.

[cali]

12. I doubt it. His history seems to indicate that he was a complete loner.

I mean I guess it's possible but I don't see it.

[arely staircase]

15. i heard that too. maybe it was the same guy

maybe he bought a ticket, propped the door open for himself on his way out to the car to get his guns, tear gas and armor.

[arely staircase]

18. msnbc now saying he bought ticket and exited then returned

he was on his phone as he exited

[think]

19. What about the dyed red hair? Was they guy on the phone wearing a cap? /nt