James Holmes was reported as a potential threat to a special campus security team by his psychiatrist.
Denver's 7News said that the warning had been lodged in the first 10 days of June, some six weeks before the horrific shooting.
Dr Lynne Fenton, who was named in court papers as a University of Colorado psychiatrist who treated the 24-year-old former graduate student, was so alarmed at his state of mind that she notified the campus threat-assessment team, the report said.
No further action was taken by the team, which also failed to inform police of the warning, because Holmes was in the process of dropping out of school, the report said, quoting a source with knowledge of the process.
If confirmed the information could have extensive repercussions on the case, in which lawyers for Holmes may attempt an insanity defence for their client as a way to avoid the death penalty.
The failure of authorities to take any action on Fenton's warnings could also bolster criticism that more robust security could have prevented the July 20 attack that killed 12 people and injured 58.
Officials at the university declined to comment on the report, citing a gag order on the case and a federal health privacy law.Author: Andy Goldberg
Psychiatrist warned school about Colorado shooter
James Holmes was reported as a potential threat to a special campus security team by his psychiatrist.
Denver's 7News said that the warning had been lodged in the first 10 days of June, some six weeks before the horrific shooting.
Dr Lynne Fenton, who was named in court papers as a University of Colorado psychiatrist who treated the 24-year-old former graduate student, was so alarmed at his state of mind that she notified the campus threat-assessment team, the report said.
No further action was taken by the team, which also failed to inform police of the warning, because Holmes was in the process of dropping out of school, the report said, quoting a source with knowledge of the process.
If confirmed the information could have extensive repercussions on the case, in which lawyers for Holmes may attempt an insanity defence for their client as a way to avoid the death penalty.
The failure of authorities to take any action on Fenton's warnings could also bolster criticism that more robust security could have prevented the July 20 attack that killed 12 people and injured 58.
Officials at the university declined to comment on the report, citing a gag order on the case and a federal health privacy law.Author: Andy Goldberg
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