DENVER (AP) — The man accused of opening fire in a suburban Denver movie theater had been an excellent student who left an impression good enough for acceptance to a competitive neuroscience program at the University of Illinois.

Those who recommended James Holmes found him intelligent and mature. His application materials described a bright student with strong interests in the cognitive sciences.

"He takes an active role in his education, and brings a great amount of intellectual and emotional maturity into the classroom," one recommendation letter said. "James received excellent evaluations from the professors and graduate students with whom he worked and was mentored."