That was the portrait that began to emerge Friday from people who knew Holmes, 24, when he grew up and studied in California. None of those interviewed by The Times said he showed any signs of violence or anger. …

A former high school classmate, Keith Goodwin, 24, now a Columbia Law School student, said he had a couple of conversations with Holmes during an AP European history class at Westview. He called Holmes a “generally pleasant guy.”

“James was certainly not someone I would have ever imagined shooting somebody,” Goodwin said.