James Holmes, the alleged gunman in the Colorado theater massacre that left a dozen people dead, appeared before a judge Monday in his first court appearance after the attack.

Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder and he could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations.

Law enforcement officials said that Holmes is refusing to cooperate and prosecutors say that it could take months to learn what prompted the mass shooting. Holmes will be formally charged next Monday.

President Obama spent Sunday visiting with families and survivors of the Colorado shooting massacre, offering words of hope and encouragement after the senseless tragedy.

Typically, prosecutors are given 72 hours to formally charge a suspect. But the prosecutors’ request for additional time to charge the 24-year-old alleged shooter was granted. 

District Attorney Carol Chambers said Monday her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Holmes. She said a decision would be made in consultation with the victims' families.

Holmes, who has been assigned a public defender, is suspected of being responsible for the shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, that left 12 dead and 59 wounded, some critically.

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