James Holmes' Psychiatrist Contacted University Police Weeks Before Movie-Theater Shooting

ABC Nightline:

The psychiatrist who treated suspected movie-theater shooter James Holmes made contact with a University of Colorado police officer to express concerns about her patient's behavior several weeks before Holmes' alleged rampage, sources told ABC News.

Read the whole story at ABC Nightline

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Comments

[Roderick Scott]

07:05 PM on 08/21/2012

I think it's funny that as of 7/25 TMZ.com reported that it was unkown rather or not she ever had any contact with him. Now on 8/07 they are just now reporting that she was in fact treating him. It really took that long to find out such a minute fact. C'mon people. Another thing is the package wasn't found in mailing room until 3 days after shooting but supposedly was in there since 7/12? I have a close relative who works for the post office and everyone knows that mail is processed the same day it was dropped off! If it's after 5pm it goes out on the 6pm truck. I have a few questions surrounding this, 1 was Dr. Lynn Fentons address at the University as well, 2 was the package already processed shipped and waiting to be shipped or, 3 was it waiting for the good Dr. to pick it up? This poor kid was a patsy just like Lee Harvey Oswald. Silly Rabbits...9/11 was all over the press and this, givin the multitude is hardly being covered? Why? Because the story is being controlled the the media.

[Neuron Flash]

11:12 AM on 08/08/2012

Police are more interested in obtaining mor riot control equipment to put down pesky protests. The we're probably all at a convention drooling over a drone purchase.

[yankeetwo]

07:58 PM on 08/07/2012

Yet ANOTHER case of police incompetence, negligence or disregard?

[MyrtleJune]

04:00 PM on 08/07/2012

Her concerns should have been elevated to outside of the university. Here's another case of where Universities think they must only deal within their own boundaries when in fact the state mental health people should have been notified and the local and state police notified. I'm unclear what the police can actually do as he'd committed no crime at that point. The burden to commit someone against their will because they may be a harm to themselves or others rests solely with the mental health professionals to pursue it. This really needs looked at and procedures need to be in place for doctors to follow. Universities have an obligation to the public as well as the student body.

Notifying the police does what? Getting this person involuntarily committed for evaluation is what is needed once their possible threat is evaluated.

[faust2001]

12:37 PM on 08/07/2012

The American media essentially revolves around four types of people: politicians, celebrities, media celebrities, and pereptrators of mass murder.

[The Dude67]

11:43 AM on 08/07/2012

There we plenty of people who sounded the alarm prior to 9/11 as well.  Similarly, no one listened, nothing was done, the whistleblowers were maligned, fired, or killed and everyone including Bush, Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld all denied advanced knowledge even though there is a PDB titled "bin Laden Determined to Strike within the U.S." that was reviewed by each of them on August 6, 2001.  

Lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie and the sheeple will believe.  Some will even attack me for being a conspiracy theorist even though this isn't an example of a theory, it's public knowledge.

[Fan Tastic]

11:38 AM on 08/07/2012

ah, the sweet smell of major LAWSUIT in the air!

[Tsunela]

11:37 AM on 08/07/2012

My question is how can we change the system? To provide stronger and better mental health programs for college students. To establish a safe communication between staff/campus security/local police/FBI? Sounds scary but perhaps when she raised the flag on this, the FBI should do background check to see what he was up to. I am sure the background check would have shown that he was buying weapons. They could have run interference. Maybe I am just dreaming but this is something that can be done. As a parent, I don't think that kind of system would deter me from enrolling my child in that university.. if anything I would be more supportive.

[MyrtleJune]

04:02 PM on 08/07/2012

ALL mental health professionals have the power to take steps to involuntarily commit someone who is suspected as a threat to themselves or others already. On or off campus, doctors are responsible to the patient and the public safety.

[Hyacinth420]

07:16 PM on 08/07/2012

ANYONE can start the process for having someone evaluated, if they think that person is a threat to him/herself, or others. Mental health professionals can perform a psych eval in various venues, including a clinical setting, or in any emergency room. Anyone can go to the Probate Court and request a pick-up order to have someone picked up and taken in for a psych eval. All emergency rooms have appropriate forms to petition someone for involuntary admission to a psych unit/hospital for medication monitoring and observation, if they suspect an individual to be a threat to himself or others. We all need to become more vigilant about
our surroundings, and not worry about "political correctness"!!!! If someone is behaving in a bizarre manner, call the police and report the incident!!! Mental health professionals know their responsibility and they should always ensure a person who may be a danger to self or others is referred for appropriate services.

[mc53]

11:35 AM on 08/07/2012

And of course, the police did nothing. Getting to the point where all they do is clean up the mess after it happens.

[trebledamages]

11:32 AM on 08/07/2012

Hey, leave the campus police alone! They have more important matters to attend to like busting students who are quietly in possession of a joint of marijuana.

[IreneNH]

11:29 AM on 08/07/2012

I will reserve judgement until more information is available including what the UofC campus police officer did with the information. I hope to God that it wasn't ignored. If so, it will be another sad lesson - like the Tucson shootings - that it's time to pay attention.

[MyrtleJune]

04:03 PM on 08/07/2012

The thing is, they probably cannot do anything anyway.

[IreneNH]

04:31 PM on 08/07/2012

I disagree. When a psychiatrist breaks patient confidentiality, there is definitely something seriously wrong. He should have been watched very carefully.

[JDolla2323]

11:27 AM on 08/07/2012

Wow - if this is true - if the psychiatrist contacted university police and said that this guy was an imminent threat to others - and they did nothing about it - University of Colorado is going to be paying out some massive, massive lawsuits. Lump them in there with Penn State, in that case. Bet there are some university executives doing some serious sweating right about now.

[Blackspeare]

11:26 AM on 08/07/2012

I hate to say I told you so----but here come the civil suits! The psychiatrist in question could be in serious trouble because they are obligated to tell the authorities of anyone who is a danger to themselves or others----the Key Stoners (campus police) are not the authorities.

[Tom Hn]

11:24 AM on 08/07/2012

Bet he smoked pot.

[Gmoney1]

11:22 AM on 08/07/2012

I smell a lot of lawsuits!

[mate556]

11:43 AM on 08/07/2012

You ain't kidding.