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Aurora Police Chief goes on record with NBC's “Dateline” about the shooting
By April MacIntyre Jul 23, 2012, 3:17 GMT
“Dateline” Sunday, July 22 air date. More of Snow’s interview to air on Monday, July 23 on “Today.”
Tune in tonight to NBC as the Police Chief Daniel Oates tells Dateline's Kate Snow that Aurora, Colorado theater massacre shooter James Holmes will be convicted.
In his first network primetime interview, Aurora, Colorado Police Chief Daniel Oates sits down with Kate Snow to discuss the tragedy in Colorado that took place on Friday morning inside a suburban movie theater in Aurora.
Excerpts from the interview are below, courtesy of NBC News.
“Dateline” Sunday, July 22 air date. More of Snow’s interview to air on Monday, July 23 on “Today.”
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
We knew fairly early on and that we had apprehended a suspect. That was fairly clear.
KATE SNOW:
They're saying, "We got a guy all in black." You've described him before. All in black. Amor. Mask. Long guns are mentioned. This guy's armed to the teeth when you take him down.
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
These guys were sharp enough to see that the outfit wasn't quite right and they immediately challenged him. I'm just so proud of them for what they were able to identify. And he surrendered immediately. So-- and-- thank God for that.
KATE SNOW:
Did he say anything?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
We're not discussing admissions but based on what he told us we were concerned about his apartment.
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KATE SNOW:
James Holmes' apartment. We know that he had loud music playing. We've heard that maybe it was on a timer and that he set it to start playing around midnight. The question I have is did he start playing loud techno music to draw a cop call? To draw--
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
Well--
KATE SNOW:
--an ordinance call
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
I understand--
KATE SNOW:
And therefore set off all those booby traps that were laid out that could have--
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
I--
KATE SNOW:
--caught one of your officers?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
I understand the theory-- but we can't possibly know what he intended to do right now. I have been told by the bomb experts that had someone opened that door it would have triggered that device. It would almost certainly have killed or severely injured whoever opened the door. And would have started, you know, a very big fire that would have been a real challenge for our fire department.
KATE SNOW:
And if that had happened before the theatre incident, that could have diverted a lot of your resources?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
Potentially, yes. Yes. it would have been two simultaneous crises at once. Yeah.
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KATE SNOW:
This area has been through three major shootings in the last 13 years. I know you weren't here for all of them, but--
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
This law enforcement community and this larger community was shaped by Columbine in a way that I'm not sure people realize around the rest of the country. We practice and practice and practice for active shooter situations. And now-- there's a special understanding here with this department. And we were already extremely rigorous and disciplined in that training and we will be even more so.
###
KATE SNOW:
Do you have a wife and kids, Chief?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
I do. My daughter was at the premiere of Batman. In another theatre. So, yes.
KATE SNOW:
I didn't know that. Same theatre complex?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
No, no. Another theatre in Aurora. And I've talked to quite a few friends who have said the same thing about their children. So--
KATE SNOW:
Have you had a chance to call your daughter?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
Oh yeah.
KATE SNOW:
As you sit here right now do you think you have a strong case against Mr. Holmes? Do you think you will have a strong case?
CHIEF DANIEL OATES:
We will convict him. Yes.
