Psychiatrist warned of Holmes threats before shooting, documents show

Pool / Reuters file

Accused Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes listens at his arraignment in Centennial, Colorado in this file photo taken March 12, 2013.

By Andrew Rafferty, Staff Writer, NBC News

A University of Colorado at Denver psychiatrist treating movie-theater massacre defendant James Holmes warned police of "homicidal statements" Holmes made one month before the Aurora, Colo., attack, according to a search warrant unsealed Thursday.

Dr. Lynn Fenton reported to University of Denver Police in June that Holmes posed a threat to the public through violent comments he made to her, according to the newly released court documents.

She also advised police that Holmes had stopped seeing her but had begun threatening her via text messages.

Holmes is accused of killing 12 and injuring 70 in a gruesome attack on a movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on July 20.

According to the document, University of Denver Police alerted Aurora, Colo. authorities of the received threat shortly after the attack.

The search warrant also reveals that on July 12, shortly before the shooting, Holmes sent Fenton a notebook that contained burned $20 bills.

The documents were released late Thursday after a judge ruled?the arrest and search warrant affidavits?could be unsealed following a request from various media organizations.?

District Judge Carlos Samour said the information had largely already been made public during court proceedings. But both prosecuting and defense attorneys objected. ?

Holmes attorney's said they worried the release could hurt their client's chances at a fair trial. Prosecutors expressed concerns about the privacy of victims and witnesses.

Samour took over the case earlier this week after previous Judge?William Sylvester stepped down, unable to commit the time necessary to preside over a death penalty case. ?

On Monday,?prosecutors?announced they would seek the death penalty, despite the defense's offer to have Holmes plead guilty and serve a life sentence.?

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