Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Suspect planned attack for months
Vol. 121, No. 175 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
LONDON CASH SCRAMBLE
LONDON (AP) — Tourists be warned: The Olympics crush has begun in London — and so has the scramble for cold, hard cash in the pricey British capital. Lines are getting longer at ATMs, visitors are in sticker shock over British prices and some befuddled tourists are wondering ... - PAGE C6
July 22, 2012
SUNDAY
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AURORA, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado shooting suspect planned the rampage that killed 12 midnight moviegoers with “calculation and deliberation,” police said Saturday, receiving deliveries for months that authorities believe armed him for battle and were used to rig his apartment with dozens of bombs. Authorities on Saturday were still working 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. At least 70 people were wounded. 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. Authorities wouldn’t discuss a motive for one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history, as makeshift memorials for the victims sprang up and relatives began to publicly mourn their loved ones. Holmes had recently
withdrawn from a competitive graduate program in neuroscience; neighbors and former classmates in California have said he was a smart loner who said little. But he had apparently prepared the attack at the Aurora theater well in advance, receiving multiple deliveries by mail for four months to his home and school and buying thousands rounds of ammunition on the Internet, Oates said. “He had a high volume of deliveries,” Oates said. “We think this explains how he got his hands on the magazine, ammunition,” he said, as well as the rigged explosives in his apartment. “What we’re seeing here is evidence of some calculation and deliberation,” Oates added. Federal authorities detonated one small explosive and disarmed others inside Holmes’ apartment after sending in a robot to take down a trip wire, FBI Special agent James Yacone said. Bomb technicians then neutralized what
AP Photo
Police load explosives from the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes into a dump truck with sand for disposal Saturday, in Aurora, Colo.
Missoula Theatre Camp presents The Pied Piper See SUSPECT, Page A3
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
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INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Young actors warm up for the Missoula Children’s Theatre Camp performance of The Pied Piper at the Roswell Community Little Theatre, Saturday afternoon.
SCOTT TAKES 4-SHOT LEAD
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) — Adam Scott has never had a better chance to end that long wait for a major championship — mostly because of that long putter. Scott stayed in the game early with two key par saves, pulled away with three birdies around the turn and was solid at the end Saturday for a 2under 68 that gave him a four-shot lead going into the final round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. “It was all pretty solid stuff, considering the circumstances and how much trouble there is on this golf course,” Scott said. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARY
• Bobbie Nell Rogers - PAGE B6
HIGH ...99˚ LOW ....70˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C4 FEATURE ...............C5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........D2 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 SUNDAY BUSINESS .C3 WEATHER ..............A8
The Missoula Children’s Theatre Camp rendition of The Pied Piper charmed audience members for 60 minutes Saturday at the Roswell Community Little Theatre, bringing the classic tale to life with lively performances from kids of all ages. The camp was sponsored by the Roswell Kids’ Arts Programs, a nonprofit organization that underwrites creative opportunities for youth in a wide range of arts. MCT, based in Missoula, Mont., is a theater camp that travels throughout the world to provide week-long residency for children in order to develop life skills. The camp took place at First Presbyterian Church from July 16 until the day of the big show, which featured 36 children from grades 1-12.
Bottomless Lakes hosts annual Sand Sculpture Contest CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
The 22nd annual Sand Sculpture Contest took place Saturday at Bottomless Lakes State Park. Prizes were given to the top three castles in the 12year-old and younger category and the 13-year -old and up category. An additional prize was given to the contestant with the most creative castle. Park ranger Blake Ingram said the contest is just another way to attract visitors to the lake. “It’s something to get the visitors out here and give them something to do.” Ingram has worked at
the park for six years and seen several interesting sculptures, but the one that he remembers best was an alligator sculpture that was entered three years ago and was approximately eight feet long. He said both he and the visitors at the lake were impressed with how much time went into sculpting it.
The contest was announced after a good number of people arrived. They then had a few hours to create their sculptures before the of f-duty lifeguards went around and judged. Ingram said the judges were looking for creativity, but they ultimately wanted everyone to just
have fun with it. He said the winner of each category had its own unique flair. First place 12year-old and younger division went to a sculpture entitled “Turtle Palace.” In the 13-year-old and up category, “Down Through the Ages” took home first. Roswell resident and grandmother of the winners Stella Chapman said they were actually there for a birthday party and didn’t know about the contest before they arrived. She said her grandkids decided to enter and “the idea for the sculpture just came to them as they started build-
See THEATRE, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Trinity Stephens, Elena Chaves and Daniel Burdine create a sandy masterpiece during the Bottomless Lakes State Park 22nd annual Sand Sculpture Contest at Lea Lake, Saturday.
RPD arrests 1, seeks 2 in Villela murder Noon Optimists honor law trio See SAND, Page A3
INDEX
Israel Vigil
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell Police secured arrest warrants Thursday for Israel Vigil, 18, Harvey Salinas, 17, and Joseph Lucero, 17, in connection with the July 6 murder of Arnulfo Villela Jr. Villela, 18, was shot multiple
Harvey Salinas
times outside a residence at 826 E. Hendricks St. Detectives spoke with Vigil as a person of interest in the case on July 8. He was subsequently arrested on a probation violation unrelated to the shooting incident. Police believe now he may be in the Midland, Texas, area.
Joseph Lucero
Vigil faces charges of one open count of murder, aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond was set at $1 million. Vigil is 5-feet, 2-inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and See RPD, Page A3
Three local law enforcement officers received awards as Officers of the Year at the Respect for Law dinner hosted by the Roswell Noon Optimist Club Thursday evening. The event is an annual occasion to recognize officers who serve their community 365 days a year. Kevin Roe, the club’s incoming president, made the introductions. The head of each branch of the local law enforcement made the presentation to their officers. Roswell Police Chief Al Solis presented the Optimist Awards plaque to Sgt. Raymond Sharpe; Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon gave the Officer of the Year plaque to Sgt. Barry Dixon; Capt. Dina Orozco of the New Mexico State Police did the honors for Officer Julian Torrez. Each officer also received gift certificates to Cattleman’s Steakhouse. Attorney Rick Kraft spoke on work and rewards in a talk on “What you put in, you will get out.”