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Minggu, 29 Juli 2012

Denver Cinema Shootings: Funerals For Victims

Two more funerals for the victims of the Denver cinema shooting have taken place.

Mourners packed a church in western Ohio to remember Matt McQuinn, who dived in front of his girlfriend during the massacre and saved her life.

At a service in San Antonio aspiring sports reporter Jessica Ghawi was praised for her "boundless energy".

It has also been announced that Ashley Moser, a pregnant woman who was critically wounded in the shooting, has suffered a miscarriage. Moser's six-year-old daughter Veronica was the youngest person killed in the attack.

At Mr McQuinn’s funeral, his girlfriend Samantha Yowley wept as a pastor spoke of the shooting spree at the cinema in the Denver suburb of Aurora more than a week ago.

He told how Mr McQuinn, 27, was hit by three bullets, saving her life.

Samantha Yowley Samantha Yowley arrives at Matt McQuinn's funeral on crutches

Ms Yowler, who was shot in the knee and survived, arrived at Mr McQuinn's funeral on crutches and wept quietly with his parents and other family during the service. Neither she nor his parents addressed mourners at the Maiden Lane Church of God.

Pastor Herb Shaffer, who is also Mr McQuinn's uncle, said his nephew had been a gift to his family since he was born, and that his actions in Colorado were just one example of his selflessness.

"In moments of crisis, true character comes out," he said. "His immediate response was to protect the woman he loved."

Mourners at Ms Ghawi's funeral also touched briefly on the massacre.

"If this coward could have done this with this much hate, imagine what we can do with this much love," her brother Jordan Ghawi said at the Community Bible Church.

Ms Ghawi's boyfriend, Jay Meloff, said that while some described her as "a tough, redheaded spitfire", he saw "a beautiful, warm-hearted and passionate woman with a capacity for love".

Aurora Tributes to the victims are still being laid in Aurora

The first victim's funeral was held on Wednesday, and more services are scheduled next week.

James Holmes, a 24-year-old former medical student studying neuroscience, is accused of opening fire in the cinema, killing Mr McQuinn, Ms Ghawi and 10 others, and wounding 58.

He is due to be formally charged on Monday in Colorado.