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Campaign lull as Obama visits victims’ families
DENVER, CO (9News.com) – President Barack Obama will fly to Colorado on Sunday to visit with the families of victims of the Aurora movie theater shooting, the White House announced, as he and Mitt Romney dialed back their campaigning in the shocked aftermath of the massacre.
Friday’s deadly rampage briefly silenced the acrimonious presidential contest, with both campaigns cutting short schedules and pulling advertising in Colorado out of respect for the dead and injured.
But for Obama, the pause was to be short-lived. After his Colorado visit, he was to fly Reno, Nev., for a Monday speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, followed by a series of campaign fundraisers in California, Oregon and Washington state. Romney is also expected to speak to the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Tuesday.
White House President Obama: Remembering the Victims of the Aurora, Colorado Shooting
Update [2012-7-23 8:56:7 by Oui]: Woman Saved By Boyfriend Who Died On Colorado Shooting
9News.com – Video Tribute To Victims Named In Theater Shooting
Lives that ended in an Aurora theater shooting were full of promise
(Denver Post) – As their names trickled out over the past two days, in friends’ social media tributes, in anguished families’ pleas for information and, finally, Saturday afternoon, in an official list, portraits emerged of the lives they had lived, and would have lived.
For Jansen Young, 21, the two constants during the movie-theatre massacre that ended 12 lives were the sound of gunshots and the feeling of her boyfriend Jon Blunk’s hands on her back.
His name was Alexander Boik, but to the hundreds who stood on the Gateway High School football field to remember him Saturday, he was AJ.
Jessica Ghawi
24, Sports journalistJessica Ghawi grew up a hockey fan in football-crazed Texas. She followed that passion to Colorado to forge a career in sports journalism.
John Larimer
27, U.S. Navy sailorJessica Ghawi grew up a hockey fan in football-crazed Texas. Navy officials confirmed Saturday that Petty Officer 3rd Class John Thomas Larimer was among those killed in the attack at an Aurora movie theater early Friday.
Matt McQuinn
27, Worked at TargetMatt McQuinn died protecting his girlfriend. As a gunman calmly walked up the aisle of an Aurora movie theater Friday firing at moviegoers, the 27-year-old Ohio native dived on top of Samantha Yowler.
Micayla Medek
23, Subway Sandwich ArtistEveryone knew her as Cayla. Micayla Medek, 23, worked as a Subway “sandwich artist” – “I do everything lol,” she said on her Facebook page.
Veronica Moser-Sullivan
6, Grade-schoolerVeronica Moser-Sullivan will always be 6 years old. The “vibrant, excitable,” blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl, who was bragging five days ago about learning how to swim, was one of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting Friday, said her great-aunt Annie Dalton. Her mother lies in IC, critically injured and not knowing of the sad fate of her daughter.
Sullivan died on his 27th birthday. He and co-workers from a Red Robin restaurant had gone to the premiere. Sullivan was killed, and seven co-workers were injured. Sunday would have been Sullivan’s one-year wedding anniversary.
Alexander Teves
24, Recently earned Master’s degreeShooting victim Alexander Teves recently earned his master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. Tom Teves, Alexander’s father, confirmed his son’s death to ABC News. Friends of Teves, 24, began posting on social media Friday night after learning Teves was among the 12 people killed in the Aurora movie theater shootings.
Rebecca Wingo
32, Worked at Joe’s Crab ShackThe father of Rebecca Wingo, 32, confirmed that his daughter died in the Aurora theater shootings in a post on his Facebook page. Steve Hernandez wrote, “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.”
Gordon Cowden
51, Outdoorsman and small business ownerGordon W. Cowden, 51, of Aurora was the oldest of the victims killed in the theater. His family released this statement:
“Loving father, outdoorsman and small business owner, Cowden was a true Texas gentleman that loved life and his family. A quick witted world traveler with a keen sense of humor, he will be remembered for his devotion to his children and for always trying his best to do the right thing, no matter the obstacle.”
Jesse Childress
29, U.S. Air Force ReserveNearly every day of the week, Jesse Childress spent his evenings playing sports with friends. Monday it was softball. Tuesday it was bowling. Another night, it was flag football. He trained for a Tough Mudder race, which he completed last month with nearly 30 other Air Force airmen from Buckley Air Force Base. Childress, who served in the Army before joining the Air Force Reserves, loved the obstacles, but hated the running
Many heroics, young people using own body in protecting friends. Many still critically injured, others were very lucky.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
