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James Holmes Jury Keeps Death Penalty Option

Jurors voted unanimously in sentencing phase of Aurora, Colorado, movie-theater shooting trial

| August 3, 2015 @ 12:04 PM Last Updated: August 3, 2015 @ 1:30 PM

Jurors in the sentencing phase of James Holmes’ trial for murder in the mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater voted unanimously on Monday to retain the death penalty as an option.

The trial now heads to its final phase, when lawyers for both sides in the case will make their last pleas to the jury, with testimony from survivors and victims’ families expected to be wrenching.

Following final arguments, the jury will render a decision on Holmes’ fate, which includes life in prison or death by lethal injection.

Also Read: James Holmes Found Guilty in Colorado Movie Theater Massacre

Last month, the jury found the 27-year-old guilty of killing 12 people and wounding at least 70 others just days before the third anniversary of the 2012 massacre, which occurred during a midnight screening of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises.”

After a nearly three-month trial marked by gruesome crime-scene details and harrowing eyewitness testimony, the jury rejected the defense team’s argument that Holmes was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Holmes’ lawyers admitted he was the gunman in court filings, but argued that their client “was in the throes of a psychotic episode when he committed the acts.”

Also Read: Amy Schumer Responds to Open Letter About Lafayette Theater Shooting: 'Don't Worry I'm on It'

Monday’s decision comes days after John Russell Houser, 58, opened fire on a Lafayette, Louisiana, theater screening the Amy Schumer comedy “Trainwreck,” killing two and wounding nine. A veteran former FBI profiler suggested Houser may have been inspired by Holmes.

“There’s a very strong likelihood this could be either an intentional or subliminal type of a copycat situation,” Clint Van Zandt told TheWrap.

Ferguson Fallout: The Scene Following Decision Not to Indict Officer Darren Wilson (Photos)

  • Police officers march by a burning police car during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Looters run out of a business during rioting on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has declined to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri since August 9. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Looters run out of a business during rioting on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has declined to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri since August 9. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: A protestor is surrounded by tear gas during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • Firefighters try to extinguish a burning restaurant set on fire after protestors rioted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Protestors kneel with their hands up in front of police vehicles during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 25: A row of cars burn at a used car lot during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch Getty Images
  • Demonstrators listen to a car radio as a grand jury's decision is delivered in front of the Ferguson police department on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Police confront protestors after rioting broke out following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: St. Louis County police officers in riot gear stand guard in front of the Ferguson police department after a grand jury's decision was delivered on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • A suspected looter is aprehended outside a Dollar Store when protestors rioted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Protestors run away after police deployed tear gas during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • CNN Reporter Sara Sidner was hit in the head with a rock while covering the Ferguson unrest on Nov. 24, 2014. CNN
  • NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Protesters march through the streets of New York after learning at police officer Darren Wilson, of the Ferguson, MO police department, who fatally shot teenager Michael Brown on August 9, would not be indicted by a grand jury on November 24, 2014 in New York City. The killing of Michael Brown inspired mass protests in the St. Louis suburb for over a month and has reignited conversations throughout the nation about race and police force. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Protesters march through the streets of New York after learning at police officer Darren Wilson, of the Ferguson, MO police department, who fatally shot teenager Michael Brown on August 9, would not be indicted by a grand jury on November 24, 2014 in New York City. The killing of Michael Brown inspired mass protests in the St. Louis suburb for over a month and has reignited conversations throughout the nation about race and police force. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 25: A woman faces police officers advancing to arrest anyone who fails to disperse as demonstrators react to the grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer who had shot dead an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, in the early morning hours of November 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, sparking large ongoing protests. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • Protesters rally outside a mall in the Crenshaw district of L.A. on Nov. 24 (Twitter) Twitter
  • NOVEMBER 24: Protesters block traffic by lying down in the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills after marching from Leimert Park in reaction to the grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer who had shot dead an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri on November 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, sparking large ongoing protests. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: Hundreds of demonstrators, many of them Howard University students, lay on the ground in protest outside the White House after the Ferguson grand jury decision in Missouri November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement following the announcement of the grand jury's decision in the shooting death of unnamed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The grand jury has decided that officer Darren Wilson will not be charged in the fatal shooting. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • DELLWOOD, MO - NOVEMBER 25: Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump speaks during a press conference at Greater St. Marks Church November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. Sharpton addressed the lack of an indictment from a grand jury considering charges against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in teh shooting death of Michael Brown . (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 25: A worker cleans up glass at a business that was damaged during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Demonstrators caused extensive damage in Ferguson and surrounding areas after a St. Louis County grand jury decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown. Getty Images
  • Ferguson Mayor James W. Knowles III speaks at a press conference at the Ferguson Community Center in Ferguson, Missouri. Knowles addressed the delayed deployment of the National Guard to the riot battered town. Getty Images
  • Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks during a news conference at the University of Missouri - St. Louis on November 25, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon discussed the law enforcement and national guard response to widespread rioting following the decision by a St. Louis County grand jury to not indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in August. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • Police officers secure Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters after protestors pushed over barricades during demonstrations November 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, one day after a grand jury decision not to prosecute a white police officer for the killing of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Getty Images
  • A protester sits in theback of a Los Angles Police Departmet (LAPD) transport bus after arrested at one intersection during a demonstration following the grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer who had shot dead an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri in the early morning hours of November 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, sparking large ongoing protests. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • Police make an arrest as protests engulf Ferguson on November 26, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Over 2,000 Missouri national guardsmen are being deployed a day after demonstrators caused extensive damage in Ferguson and surrounding areas following a St. Louis County grand jury decision to not indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • A police squad car is turned over by demonstrators during a protest on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Yesterday protesting turned into rioting following the grand jury announcement to not indict officer Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown case. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • Lesley McSpadden (C), mother of Michael Brown Jr, attends a press conference on the eve of Thanksgiving to pray and address the events of the last few days regarding the grand jury verdict of police officer Darren Wilson on November 26, 2014 in New York City. Police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, on August 9, sparking large ongoing protests. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Protesters set up barricades and shut down the 101 freeway following the grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer who had shot dead an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri on the night of November 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, sparking large ongoing protests. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Getty Images
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Violence erupts in Ferguson, and protests are held across the country after a grand jury decided Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not face criminal charges in the shooting death of Michael Brown

Police officers march by a burning squad car during a demonstration in Ferguson, Missouri on Nov. 24, 2014.

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