Aurora, CO-- The Colorado shooting suspect planned the rampage that killed 12 midnight moviegoers with "calculation and deliberation," police said Saturday, receiving deliveries for months which authorities believe armed him for battle and were used to rig his apartment with dozens of bombs.
Authorities on Saturday worked to clear dangerous explosive materials from inside James Holmes' suburban Denver apartment a day after police said he opened fire and set off gas canisters in a suburban theater minutes into the premiere of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."
The attack left 12 dead and 58 injured.
His apartment was rigged with jars of liquids, explosives and chemicals that were booby trapped to kill "whoever entered it," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said, noting it would have likely been one of his officers.
"You think we're angry? We sure as hell are angry," Oates said.
Police said in a statement Saturday evening that "major threats have been eliminated" from the apartment, but the overall threat has not been completely eliminated.
Earlier, bomb technicians were successful in deactivating an explosive device installed in the apartment.
A law enforcement official, citing the ongoing investigation, spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press and said officers disarmed one explosive with a "water shot" - a device that emits a shock wave and water.
Earlier Saturday, bomb experts executed a controlled detonation of a triggering device in the apartment.
The bomb crews were faced with deactivating an explosives-laden booby trap that had been set up in the home of James Holmes. Examination of the explosives by bomb experts from the FBI Lab in Quantico, Va., revealed that a trip wire (possibly fishing line) was set up to trigger a liquid container to mix with another, setting off the main charge of the device, which may be additional flammable liquids.
Also in the apartment were about 30 aerial shells (or fireworks) the size of softballs, black in color and made of mostly rubber. They are believed to be filled with smokeless powder. Depending on how the powder was packed, the devices could either detonate or just burn.
Police said the apartment was rigged to detonate on a presumed police entry when the suspect set up loud music to be playing, while he was on his way to the movie theater. First responders would then be sent to the apartment, on the opposite side of town where the gunman planned to wage his assault.
Having evacuated the apartment complex, police this morning were seen towing vehicles away to clear the immediate area. Bomb technicians on a fire truck's crane were seen maneuvering a triggering device through the broken window of the apartment.
Shortly afterwards, a sire sounded, and a muffled boom was heard.
What was recovered from Holmes' apartment on Saturday was taken to a remote location and detonated.