University of Iowa rejected Colorado movie theater shooting suspect James Holmes

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa rejected the suspect in the July 20 shooting rampage at a Colorado movie theater when he applied to a graduate program last year.

Records released Thursday show the director of the university's graduate program in neuroscience told colleagues in a January 2011 email that they were not to offer admission to James Eagan Holmes "under any circumstances." A second professor agreed.

Program director Daniel Tranel and psychology professor Mark Blumberg didn't elaborate on their reasons in the emails.

An email from Tranel indicates Holmes was among seven applicants who visited campus one weekend. He recommended four be offered admission and was undecided about two. Holmes was the only one he recommending denying.

Holmes later enrolled at the University of Colorado Denver, but withdrew before the shooting.