Colorado movie theater suspect bought guns in last 2 months

WASHINGTON - The four weapons recovered in the deadly shootings in Colorado all were purchased by the suspect in the case from retail gun stores in Colorado in the last two months, according to a federal law enforcement official.

Holmes bought one of the four guns -- the first of two Glock pistols -- on May 22 at Gander Mountain in Aurora, Colo., according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe into the shootings is ongoing. The other purchases:

--On May 28, six days after purchasing the Glock, Holmes purchased the shotgun used in the shootings from Bass Pro Shops in Denver.

--On June 7, Holmes bought the AR-15 assault rifle used in the attacks at a Gander Mountain store in Thornton, Colo.

--On July 6, Holmes returned to the Bass Pro Shops store in Denver and bought the other Glock pistol.

Larry Whiteley, a Bass Pro Shops spokesman, said records show that employees in the Denver store where Holmes bought a shotgun and later a Glock pistol followed all federal rules in selling the weapons.

"Background checks, as required by federal law, were properly conducted, and (Holmes) was approved," Whiteley said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Gander Mountain said the company cooperates with law enforcement in criminal investigations and operates "in strict compliance with all local, state and federal law regarding firearms ownership and are fully cooperating with this ongoing investigation."

Both companies also offered condolences for the victims of the shooting.

A second federal law enforcement official said Holmes had a high capacity ammunition magazine in the AR-15 assault rifle investigators believe he used in the shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, a Denver suburb.

The type of ammunition magazine Holmes is accused of using was banned for new production under the old federal assault weapon ban, said Daniel Vice, senior attorney for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

When the ban expired in 2004, gun manufacturers flooded the market with the type of high capacity magazines Holmes used Friday, Vice said.

Holmes is also believed to have hurled two gas canisters into the theater before opening fire.
------
Associated Press writer Eileen Sullivan contributed to this report.