Victim Had Survived Earlier Shooting Spree
Updated: 9:22am UK, Saturday 21 July 2012
Journalist Jessica Ghawi has been named as a victim of the Batman massacre - as it emerged she survived another shooting spree in Toronto weeks earlier.
Jessica had blogged about the shooting in a shopping mall in Toronto writing: "I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath."
Yesterday she was the first victim to be named in the Denver shootings.
The 24-year-old blogged about sport and had worked as an intern at radio station The Fan 104.3. Journalists from the station paid their respects to Jessica on Twitter.
"We're sad to report @JessicaRedfield, an intern for The Fan, was 1 of those killed in the theater shooting. Our prayers are w/her family.”
Jessica's surname was Ghawi but she used the name "Redfield" professionally. Her Twitter profile states: “You can find me in the TV studio, NHL arena/ locker room, on a plane, or writing."
A few weeks ago she wrote on her blog about her experience being caught up in a shooting in Toronto, in June.
The shooting left one person dead and five people injured.
“What started off as a trip to the mall to get sushi and shop, ended up as a day that has forever changed my life," she said.
"My receipt shows my purchase was made at 6:20pm. After that purchase I said I felt funny. It wasn’t the kind of funny you feel after spending money you know you shouldn’t have spent. It was almost a panicky feeling that left my chest feeling like something was missing.
"The gunshots rung out at 6:23. Had I not gone outside, I would’ve been in the midst of gunfire.
"I walked around the outside of the mall. People started funnelling out of every exit. When I got back to the front, I saw a police car, an ambulance, and a fire truck.
"I was shown how fragile life was on Saturday. I saw the terror on bystanders’ faces. I saw the victims of a senseless crime. I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath."
Friends of Jessica paid tribute to her on Twitter. National Hockey journalist Jesse Spector said she was a "passionate journalist – and a good friend”.
Jessica’s brother, Jordan Ghawi, discovered his sister was caught up in the shooting after his mother called him in the early hours of the morning. He wrote on his blog:
"At approximately 0215 CST, I received an hysterical, and almost unintelligible, phone call from my mother stating that my sister, Jessica Ghawi, had been shot while attending the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Denver, CO.
"I was able to contact the man that was with my sister, mutual friend Brent, who stated that they were in the theatre when an incendiary device was fired into the crowd and that shots rang out immediately afterwards.
"Brent further stated that he took two rounds and that my sister took one round followed by an additional round which appeared to strike her in the head. At this time, I do not have confirmation that she is alive or dead.”
Other victims of the tragedy have also been named. Alex Sullivan was preparing to celebrate his 27th birthday at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises before celebrating his first wedding anniversary the next day.
Sullivan's father Tom had earlier pleaded with the media outside Gateway High School to help find his son, before the family confirmed he was among the dead after they were notified by police on Friday evening.
"He was a very, very good young man," said Sullivan's uncle, Joe Loewenguth. "He always had a smile, always made you laugh. He had a little bit of comic in him. Witty, smart. He was loving; had a big heart."
Micayla Medek, 23, was also among the dead. Her father's cousin, Anita Busch said that, while the news was heartbreaking, it was a relief for the family after they had spent an agonizing day waiting for news.
"I hope this evil act ... doesn't shake people's faith in God," she said.
