The TRUE HEROES Of The Colorado Movie Theater Shooting

The TRUE HEROES Of The Colorado Movie Theater Shooting

Know more about the true heroes that gave their lives trying to protect their loved ones and friends during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

By iJackSparrow - Jul 21, 2012 06:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: LA Times

Jessica "Redfield" Ghawi, 24




In early June, Jessica Ghawi walked out of a Toronto mall moments before a gunman walked in. The shootings that followed killed two people and wounded half a dozen more.

“I was shown how fragile life was,” Ghawi wrote on her personal blog. “… I was reminded that we don't know when or where our time on Earth will end.”
Ghawi, who went by Jessica Redfield professionally, had moved to Denver from Texas a year ago to pursue a career as a sports journalist. She worked as an intern at Denver sports radio station 104.3 The Fan, and with the You Can Play Project, a gay-rights group that supports equality in the locker room.

"I specialize in sports media and snark," Ghawi wrote on her blog. "Not your typical sarcastic feisty redhead attempting to perfect the trifecta of class, sass, and crass. Yankee born, Texas raised, Colorado blooming."




Micayla C. Medek, 23




On her Facebook page, Micayla identified herself as a Subway sandwich artist. A graduate of William C. Hinkley High School in Aurora, she said she was a member of the class of 2015 of the Community College of Aurora.

"I'm a simple independent girl who's just trying to get her life together while still having fun,” she wrote.

Friends tried to carry Cayla, as she was called, out of the theater after the shooting, but paramedics told them to leave her behind, aunt Jenny Zakovich of South Milwaukee, Wis., told the Times.




John T. Larimer, 27




John Larimer had been in the United States Navy for just over a year when he died, officials said. He was a petty officer third class and had been stationed at Aurora’s Buckley Air Force Base since October. Larimer worked as a cryptologic technician in a unit from the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet.

The Navy informed Larimer’s family of his death Friday, his parents said in a statement. His brother is working with the Navy to bring Larimer’s body home to Crystal Lake, Ill.

"I am incredibly saddened by the loss of Petty Officer John Larimer--he was an outstanding shipmate,” Larimer’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Jeffrey Jakuboski, said in a statement. “A valued member of our Navy team, he will be missed by all who knew him. My heart goes out to John's family, friends and loved ones, as well as to all victims of this horrible tragedy.”




Alex M. Sullivan, 27




Friday was Alex Sullivan’s 27th birthday, and he apparently died a hero.

Based on his wounds, friends said, Sullivan shielded those around him from the bullets.

"He was on the end and he stood up to cover the girls," said Shelly Fradkin, whose son grew up with and was best friends with Sullivan. She said his love for Batman and other stars shaped his character. “His heart was ready to be that real life superhero.”

Sullivan graduated from Grandview High School in 2003 and studied culinary arts, Fradkin said. In the past, he had worked at movie theaters but was most recently working at Red Robin. He was a newlywed and had no children.




Alexander C. Teves, 24




Teves, 24, attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix in 2006. He earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology in June from the University of Denver. Arapahoe County coroner's officials have identified Teves as one of the 12 victims.




Rebecca Ann Wingo, 32




Rebecca Wingo had two daughters, ages 4 and 6. She worked at a medical company in Aurora, friends said, and had gone to see the new Batman movie with Marcus Weaver, 41.

As the bullets flew in the theater, Weaver said he tried to protect her as best he could.

“… When I lifted her up, she was unconscious,” Weaver said. “She may have already passed.”

According to her Facebook page, Wingo was born in Quinlan, Tex. and spent 11 years working for the United States Air Force. She most recently worked as an intake specialist at Schryver Medical in Denver.

Wingo’s family is from California, Weaver said, and she had planned to fly out for a wedding this fall. Her mother identified her body Friday.Wingo’s father Steve Hernandez posted the following to Facebook, “I lost my daughter yesterday to a mad man, my grief right now is inconsolable. I hear she died instantly, without pain, however the pain is unbearable. Lord why, why, why???? I sit here and resist this entry, however I feel I must, in disgust, in dismay, in prayer, I love you my daughter Rebecca, we all will miss you.”




Jonathan T. Blunk, 26




When the bullets started coming, Jon Blunk pushed his girlfriend Jansen Young to the theater floor, she told the “Today” show. She shook him, saying, “Jon, Jon, we gotta go!” and tried to call 911. Then she raised her head, looked around and saw other people doing the same.

“I think Jon just took a bullet for me,” she remembered thinking. Blunk had told her that he was born to serve his country, Young said, and was re-enlisting in the armed forces.

“It was just what he wanted to do, and he loved it,” Young said. “He saved me, and he gave me the opportunity to live – he would have done it for anybody that day.”



Jesse E. Childress, 29


Jesse Childress, 29, will be remembered as loyal and athletic, friends said Saturday as they gathered at a makeshift memorial across the street from the theater.

The U.S. Air Force reserves cyber systems operator died at a nearby hospital, officials said. Childress was single and had no children. He had a pet dog and family in the Los Angeles area.

Friends placed an Air Force flag at the foot of the memorial, where a teddy bear in a miniature uniform and small, folded blue-and-white flags rested.
“He was athletic, fun to be with—he really just wanted to serve,” said Ashley Wasinger, 31, who served with Childress in the Air Force’s 310 Force Support Squadron. She sobbed as she recalled the last time she talked to Childress on Thursday.

“He talked about the movie,” she said. “We’ve all been excited to go. He tried to talk me into going.”




Gordon W. Cowden, 51


Arapahoe County coroner’s officials have identified Cowden as one of the 12 victims.




Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6


Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, was a “vibrant little girl” on a mother-daughter outing to the midnight screening, a relative said Saturday.

Her mother, 25-year-old Ashley Moser, was getting ready to attend nursing school, Ashley’s aunt Annie Dalton said. Moser remains in critical condition with bullets in her throat and abdomen, the Associated Press reported.




Matthew R. McQuinn, 27


Coroner’s officials described McQuinn’s identification as presumptive. They said they are awaiting a definitive identification.




These men, women and children are the true superheroes, and their stories and faces are the ones that I'm choosing to remember, instead of that animal. Words are failing me now, so I'd like to end this article with the following messages:





"I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given."

- Jessica "Redfield" Ghawi (1987-2012)
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mawilli4
mawilli4 - 7/21/2012, 6:45 PM
wonderful. thank you for doing this. it's time the ones who deserve it get the attention instead of that [frick]ing piece of shit scum bag.
Tony93
Tony93 - 7/21/2012, 6:55 PM
You all will be remembered..
Sad Superman Pictures, Images and Photos
rest in peace
randomality85
randomality85 - 7/21/2012, 7:01 PM
I needed this to remind me that there are still people willing to rise out of a tragedy and become heroes. There are still wonderful people out there.
sahind
sahind - 7/21/2012, 7:03 PM
MAY YOU ALL REST IN PEACE!!!
Superman21
Superman21 - 7/21/2012, 7:29 PM
Rest in Piece. Valla con dios. Go with god.
xfan320
xfan320 - 7/21/2012, 7:55 PM
Its terrible what can happen to such innocent decent people. It's just wrong that this had to happen to anyone.. I hope this Holmes fella gets tortured for what he's done. He deserves it..
Its times like these you wish there really was vigilante justice.

Prayers to all, and may every fallen victim find peace wherever they may be.
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/21/2012, 7:57 PM
R.I.P.
musashi
musashi - 7/21/2012, 7:58 PM
Thanks @jack.

RIP fellow comic book movie fans. You will be missed.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/21/2012, 9:01 PM
I hope they rest in peace...
Nexus6
Nexus6 - 7/21/2012, 9:13 PM
RIP. Love goes out to their families
Jables
Jables - 7/21/2012, 9:14 PM
It's a damn shame they died in a movie theater... an innocent, joyful place...

R.I.P.
DCavenger
DCavenger - 7/21/2012, 11:40 PM
I have had an account here for almost a year and this is probably only 2nd time I'm logging in.

A deserved eulogy for strangers, heroes and good men. RIP :'( You deserved to live...
Tony93
Tony93 - 7/21/2012, 11:44 PM
So news is reporting that supposedly there was a second suspect
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 7/22/2012, 8:09 AM
heavykilluminati@ What the [frick] does this have to o with porn? Porn is a celebration of life, this has more to do with shit like having the word "kill" in your username.
azn197
azn197 - 7/22/2012, 8:25 AM
much applause to you JackSparrow for putting this together even though none of us probably knew any of these people, but it shows alot that around the nation people are doing whatever they can to help weather its donating to their fund or to even just making a simple article like this
angus666
angus666 - 7/22/2012, 8:59 AM
It's such a horrible thing. All they wanted to do is enjoy a great movie about a superhero, and they get this. Now his apartment is rigged with explosives, and families are grieving.
zachshivey
zachshivey - 7/22/2012, 9:06 AM
This article is awesome. I still think we should try and set up a donation for the families on here
DeadPoolTX
DeadPoolTX - 7/22/2012, 9:22 AM


RIP Comic fans soon you will get the justice you deserve.
Deadshot
Deadshot - 7/22/2012, 9:58 AM
Rest In Peace.
shadows29
shadows29 - 7/22/2012, 10:08 AM
Beautiful article, may they rest in peace. I hope justice is served on that guy.
TopherH
TopherH - 7/22/2012, 10:10 AM
Awesome tribute. RIP.
ibravosp5
ibravosp5 - 7/22/2012, 10:17 AM
R.I.P to all of them. I deeply wish this didn't happened. I hope Holmes gets tortured, prison raped hard with broom sticks and inmates and slowly dies!!!!!!
JonasWepeel
JonasWepeel - 7/22/2012, 10:25 AM
We should have their faces on main instead of that psycho's face. Or no faces.

Thank you for the tribute.
JorEl85
JorEl85 - 7/22/2012, 10:34 AM
Got my hopes up for a second when I read that the little girl was in critical condition because I had heard that she was one of the 12. The latter is true, she didn't make it. This is so awful.
Gutts81
Gutts81 - 7/22/2012, 10:48 AM
Whatever prison they send this bastard to,I hope to the creator that he gets [frick]ed and beaten everyday.
ronnie42
ronnie42 - 7/22/2012, 11:03 AM
I think the person whoever did this deserves no mercy. What they did was inhumane, deserve to rot in hell.

Corrose
Corrose - 7/22/2012, 12:03 PM
Thank you for this article, being able to see the faces of those who gave all makes it hit home all the more. The gunman deserves nothing less than street justice with some bats and clubs, and his soul will hopefully rot forever in hell.
Mr2099
Mr2099 - 7/22/2012, 12:17 PM
Thank you for posting this. All these people will be remembered for their sacrifice. I hope that any survivors make a full recovery. Even though I spent most of the last two nights in bed, thinking of ways I could make that bastard suffer, nothing can bring them back. I just hope to God that they are in heaven right now, where there is no more pain, fear, sickness, or death.
I will miss every one of you, my siblings in comics and Christ.
Whoelsebutkevin
Whoelsebutkevin - 7/22/2012, 12:28 PM
I don't know why this incident is hitting me more than the average shooting in which technically no shooting should be average. I just think that what if it was my theatre in Texas? My theater experience for life is ruined now to my constant worry bout someone coming out of that tunnel with a gun.

I cannot express to the families how sad I am because all I want to do is go cry with them, hold them its seems all I can do and capable of at this point. They guy is locked up so my thoughts about him are put to the side for the momment. But to the the families, I truly give my heart to you and yours. I love you from another American and will be pray for you. God Bless you and your wonderful relatives who shouldn't have to be laid to rest this week.

America is with you as well as the world i'm sure.
bfprimetime
bfprimetime - 7/22/2012, 1:51 PM
RIP to all



TheIncredibleMutantBat
TheIncredibleMutantBat - 7/22/2012, 1:55 PM
R.I.P

Always remember out of tragedy, greatness always triumphant.
Oxbow
Oxbow - 7/22/2012, 2:38 PM
May all who have been hurt by such random violence find peace. The following prayer was very helpful when he had a similar tragedy in seattle not too long ago :(...


Great Spirit, Creator.

We come to you with humble hearts and we ask for your comfort and healing. We are not a broken city but badly wounded and in grief for those we’ve lost. Members of our community, precious creatives, healers and visionaries have come to join you creator. We believe it is too soon for their divine appointment. We need your help. Please heal us of this violence creator, rearrange our hearts, remove from us any desire to harm anyone for any reason through word, thought or deed to harm anyone in anyway. May those who have crossed find their way to you, may they know the comfort of your angels, may they have a safe journey to their divine appointment with you. And may we be changed by this tragedy, may it open, deepen and transform us into people who care. May we mentor the youth and their gifts, focus on what is working instead of what isn’t, be in the prescription instead of the description. May our hearts be rearranged to make love the most important thing. It is the greatest healing power we carry. Infuse us with this wisdom, power and love. Please cherish, hold and comfort the families, friends, teachers and fans of those whose lives ended in this terrible tragedy. We need your help to teach us, to heal those who are wounded into their wholeness and well being and to carry us all to the wisdom of spirit. We pray that you will keep us in your safe light. Heal us as family, friends. Heal us as community and lush green city. Guide us to change so this never happens again. Thank you very much creator. Bless us, heal us.

Aho. Amen.



The heart moves deep, wise in the fog of misinterpretations only the grace stills the old memory. Somehow this is to change us, move us into a different place than we’ve known before. What is that place? Grief, yes. Pain, yes. But a seed of wondering, how can we be the change we want to see. The present that shapeshifts things, the voice that sings instead of accuses. How many times have we shot down our most creative selves, isolated ourselves from community and our loved ones. Held bitterness, instead of expressing what would mend everything. Things don’t need to go this far outside of us. They don’t need to go this far inside of us. Are we the victims standing by or are we the gunman/woman firing our rage, apathy, cynicism, our pain, our caring too deeply but not telling a soul. And destroying what is good in life and blessed and ourselves and others. The outside reflects the inside always. This holy ground of our hearts has been changed. When we go to compassion to how it has changed us, we ask for the comfort and open our lives more to notice when someone is in trouble and to care and to make what little differences that we can in our inside world which will affect the outside world. To have compassion for our gunman, inside. To express our gifts and talents, our great hearts that yearn to make a difference for the youth, the elders, and those in between. We cannot look outside for the problem, it’s in each of us and a voice that says right before we’re about to fire, put the gun down son, just put the gun down.


http://sundustoracle.charsundust.com/soi-w/2012/05/31/dear-community
ThatOneDude
ThatOneDude - 7/22/2012, 3:49 PM
May these victims, and all who lost their lives that night find peace and let the pain that their families are feeling heal at least a little even though it will take a very long time...

I just can't understand how someone be so evil and take the lives of so many peaceful people who were just there enjoying life...

I hope the Monster who did this feels the pain and suffering that he has caused so many individuals and families...

I am literally holding back tears as I type this. I just can't understand why someone would do something so evil.
jaycranney
jaycranney - 7/22/2012, 3:57 PM
Growing up in a country where these mindless acts of violence occurred on a daily basis I would like to say that I am used to this type of thing... but I can say with my hand on my heart and that I am not.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims families throughout all of this... they, are without doubt the real heros in this dreadful darkness.

RIP to all of those that lost their innocent lives so prematurely.

sups92
sups92 - 7/22/2012, 4:04 PM
May you rest in peace. They're families will be in our hearts.
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 7/22/2012, 6:05 PM
That's so sad. These were stand up people who had their whole lives ahead of them. They were real heroes.

May they all rest in peace. My heart goes out to their families and friends.
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