Colo. shooting suspect appears dazed in court

James Holmes, with dyed reddish-orange hair, appeared dazed and somber today as he made an appearance in court to be told that he was being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.

An expressionless Holmes frequently stared at his hands during the brief court appearance. When asked if he had anything to say, he didn't respond and let a lawyer speak on his behalf.

Update at 4:49 p.m. ET: A lawyer for the family of James Holmes issued a statement at a brief news conference in San Diego and answered a few questions, USA TODAY's Natalie DiBlasio reports.

Holmes' mother, Arlene, said she was awakened early Saturday by phone call from an ABC News reporter, according to the statement ready attorney Lisa Damiani.

"He asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself. I asked him to tell me why he was calling and he told me about the shooting in Aurora. He asked for a comment I said I could not comment because I didn't know if the person he was talking about was my son."

"The family has elected not to discuss James or their relationship with James at this time."

Asked if the parents stand by James Holmes, Damiani said, "Yes, they do. He's their son."

Arlene Holmes is a registered nurse at Tri-City Medical Center in nearby Oceanside. Robert Holmes is a software engineer with Fair Isaac, which provides credit scores and other financial information, says NBC San Diego.

Update at 12:12 p.m. ET: Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers says formal charges will be filed against James Holmes next Monday.

Update at 12:10 p.m. ET: Chambers says it could take up to a year before James Holmes, 24, is brought to trial.

Update at 12:04 p.m. ET: District Attorney Carol Chambers, speaking to reporters after the hearing, says "there is no such thing as a slam-dunk case -- we're still looking at an enormous amount of evidence." She says she has not decided yet if prosecutors will seek the death penalty. Chambers says that decision could take at least two months and will be made after discussions with the surviving victims and the relatives of the dead.

Update at 11:43 a.m. ET: The hearing is over. Holmes has left the courtroom.

Update at 11:34 a.m. ET: An expressionless Holmes often stares down at his hands as the judge speaks. His forehead is furrowed and he looks somewhat dazed by the proceedings. Unshaven and handcuffed, Holmes is sitting motionless in a maroon jailhouse jumpsuit.

Update at 11:33 a.m. ET: The judge asks the 24-year-old suspect if he understands the court's statement or had anything to say regarding the charges. Holmes does not reply, but has his lawyer respond.

Update at 11:32 a.m. ET: The judge tells Holmes that he is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder charges.

Update at 11:31 a.m. ET: Holmes looking subdued sits next to a woman who appears to be his lawyer or a court official.

Update at 11:30 a.m. ET: James Holmes, whose hair is dyed a bright reddish-orange, appears in the courtroom, and not by video.

Update at 11:30 a.m. ET: The hearing opens in Centennial, Colo.

Update at 11:13 a.m. ET: Hundreds of cars are packing the parking lot of the Arapahoe County courthouse in Centennial, Colo., for the hearing.

Dozens of journalists from around the world have staked out the courtyard near the building's entrance as sheriff's deputies direct traffic and stand guard on walkways into the compound, USA TODAY's Oren Dorell reports.

Centennial is about 20 miles from Aurora, scene of Friday's shooting massacre.

Update at 11:01 a.m. ET: A court spokesperson says today's hearing will last about 10 minutes. During that time, according to spokesperson Cass Spencer, Holmes will be told that he is being held on arresting charges of suspicion of murder.

"This is going to be quick, and it's mostly about housekeeping items," Spencer tells reporters.

County prosecutors normally have 72 hours to file formal charges.

Spencer says there will be a preliminary hearing at a later date followed by an arraignment, USA TODAY's Gary Strauss reports.

Update at 10:52 a.m. ET:The Denver Post  notes that today's hearing is known as an advisement and is aimed at informing the suspect as to the murder charges on which he is being held. The newspaper points out that the district attorney's office will formally file charges later. In between, prosecutors can add or change the charges against him.

Original posting: Holmes, who recently withdrew from a doctoral program at the University of Colorado Denver, will likely appear by closed-circuit television and not in an open court.

A separate, private room has been set up to allow victims and families to view the proceedings, Strauss reports.

In advance of the hearing, the courthouse buildings are blanketed with scores of sheriff's deputies, walking foot patrols. Others are in patrol cars and motorcycles, some parked, others slowly canvassing the sprawling complex of court buildings and detention center.

Holmes, 24, has been held in solitary confinement at an Arapahoe County detention facility but will be moved today to a next-door courtroom for the hearing.

The Associated Press reports that John O'Connor, the head of the Arapahoe County public defender's office, has been assigned to represent him.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates says only that Holmes has "lawyered up" since his arrest early Friday, the Associated Press reports.

"He's not talking to us," Oates says.

Holmes has been held without bond at the lockup in Centennial, Colo., about 13 miles from the theater where the massacre occurred.

Chief Judge William Sylvester will likely preside over the hearing.

The San Diego native, wearing extensive body armor, was arrested early Friday behind a movie theater where he allegedly opened fire on a crowd watching a midnight premiere of the Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.

Police say that he told authorities that his apartment was rigged with explosives. Special teams carefully defused the apparent booby-traps during the weekend.

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