A jury decided Monday that the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooter could face the death penalty.
The jury ruled that the mitigating factors did not outweigh the aggravating factors in the case, which means the sentencing will move on to the next phase where Holmes could receive the death penalty.
After hearing pleas from James Holmes’ family, the jury deliberated only three hours before making their decision. They could have sentenced him to life in prison without parole Monday but opted to move to the next phase of sentencing, which opens up the possibility of the death penalty.
The jury rejected Holmes’ insanity defense and found him guilty on July 16 of first degree murder and attempted murder in the July 2012 attack.
Now, jurors will hear from victims of the crime before deciding if Holmes is sentenced to death. The jury must be unanimous on a death sentence.
Holmes was also convicted of one count of possessing an explosive device after police say he rigged explosives in his home for police and investigators to trigger.
Follow Casey on Twitter and like him on Facebook
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.