The man accused of gunning down 12 people and injuring another 70 during a screening of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises" in Colorado last summer will face the death penalty for the slayings according to Arapahoe District Attorney's Office.

James Holmes’s defense attorney on Wednesday, offered to have his client plead “Guilty” to the shooting crimes and serve life in prison. The presecutors rejected that offer.

After speaking with over 800 victims and family members, the District Attorneys have decided to seek the death penalty against James Holmes said U.S. District Attorney George Brauchler. At a hearing in the case, Brauchler said, “It’s my determination and my intention that in this case, for James Eagan Holmes, justice is death.”

The cinema massacre on July 20th of 2012, horrified the nation and pushed gun control into the national discussion.

The Holmes trial is set to begin on August 5th. The defense will also continue pursueing an insanity plea as well. If Holmes is deemed insane or to be suffering from mental defect, he cannot be put to death.

The Guilty plea may still be accepted before the case goes to trial. Pursuing the death penalty may take years and Holmes may sit on death row for decades before a death sentence, if it is imposed, could be carried out.

Holmes faces 166 counts of murder and attempted murder.