CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS) - There is new information this morning about the suspect and a possible motive in the Aurora, Colorado massacre. Prosecutors say James Holmes' school record could explain the shootings.

If a motive was lacking until now in the Colorado shooting massacre, prosecutors provided their own. Just six weeks before he opened fire in a crowded movie theater, James Holmes failed a key exam and began making threats at the University of Colorado.

Prosecutor Karen Pearson told the court Thursday "that he took and failed his oral board on June 7 is very much relevant to what happened after."

Prosecutors are trying to subpoena Holmes' school records, arguing that his ID access was lifted and he was banned from the campus, but the university disputes this claim. Legal analyst Craig Silverman says, "The prosecution was very aggressive today. They're demanding these records and it's clear they are building a case on revenge."

Defense attorney Daniel King called it a "fishing expedition that needs to be stopped" saying "it's irrelevant what the motive is."

But victims and their families who were in the courtroom on Thursday may disagree. Shooting witness Nicole says, "I feel like it's good for victims or anybody that was there or involved to be there and it's for the right of the people to know what is going on."

Attorneys and the accused gunman are due back in court next week as the defense tries to keep a package that Holmes sent to his psychiatrist out of the hands of the prosecution.