Shooting Survivor: 'I Found Myself Weeping' After Guilty Verdict
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4)- Theater shooting survivor Marcus Weaver was brought to tears when the guilty verdict was read in court on Thursday afternoon.
"As each of the counts were read it was just an unreal situation and we knew this day would come so we've been trying to prepare as best we can but nothing can really prepare you for the emotion, the anxiety, the feelings and I found myself just weeping as they read each count," said Weaver.
Weaver was with his friend, Rebecca Wingo, on July 20, 2012 when James Holmes started shooting in what was a carefully planned attack. Wingo did not survive.
"One day I'll see her again in heaven and when I get there she'll be the first person I look for," said Weaver.
Gunman James Holmes was found guilty in the Aurora theater shooting that left 12 people dead and dozens more injured, putting the death penalty option at the center of the courtroom.
The jury began delivering their verdict at 4:15 p.m. Thursday. Holmes was found guilty in the following 24 counts for first-degree murder and first-degree murder extreme indifference in the deaths of Jonathan Blunk, Alexander J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, John Larimer, Jessica Ghawi, Matthew McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alexander Teves, Rebecca Wingo.
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When asked what the jury should do for sentencing, Weaver replied, "If you look at the evidence and something we've known for a long time, we were actually in the fifth row, bullets whizzing by your head, just a lot going on and now we're here at this point, we just wanted justice and I feel we've gotten justice but is it really justice?"
Holmes showed no emotion as the verdict was read. He stood with his defense attorneys as Judge Carlos A. Samour read the long list of charges and each verdict.
Holmes, 27, faced a total of 165 counts. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the massacre in an Aurora theater nearly three years ago. He faced 24 counts of first-degree murder for the 12 people who died in the shootings — two for each of the 12, first-degree murder and murder in the first degree extreme indifference. He also faced two counts of attempted murder for each of the 70 he wounded that night at the Century 16 Theater.
"I watched the judge release the counts, it was difficult and I just broke down crying and I just couldn't hold it back anymore. It's been three years and I tried to remain as tough as possible and as strong as I could and built a team around me but nothing could prepare you for a day like this," said Weaver.
