Victim Had Survived Earlier Shooting Spree
Updated: 3:54pm UK, Saturday 21 July 2012
Police in Colorado have officially named more of the victims of the killing spree at a cinema in Denver during a screening of the latest Batman film.
Among the dead was a promising young sports journalist and a man celebrating his 27th birthday. Navy officials also confirmed a sailor was among those killed.
Petty Officer Third Class John Larimer, 27, of Illinois, died in the tragedy while another sailor was treated for injuries and released at the scene.
Paying tribut to the officers, Commander Jeffrey Jakuboski said: "I am incredibly saddened by the loss of Petty Officer John Larimer. He was an outstanding shipmate and 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."
Larimer joined the Navy in 2011 and was a cryptologic technician third class. He had been stationed in Aurora since October 2011.
Jessica Redfield was the first victim to be named in the tragedy.
The 24-year-old had blogged about how she was caught up in a shooting incident at a shopping mall in Toronto last month that left one person dead and five people injured.
She wrote: “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 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."
Jessica 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."
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.”
In a televised interview later, Jordan described a phone call he had with his friend Brent who was with his sister when she was shot.
"He was able to talk to me while wounded on scene. He had not yet been transported and I asked him what had occurred. He told me he was inside the theater when some sort of incendiary or diversion device was deployed, into the crowd at which point the crowd began to rise out of their seats.
"Shots were fired. They dropped to the ground. My sister called 911, he attempted to call 911. My sister was struck by a round on the leg. He immediately, with his EMT training, began to put pressure to that wound, to help stabilize her and she was screaming, and as he was on the ground, he took a round to the leg.
"And he realized my sister was no longer screaming. And he looked over and it appeared she had had a fatal shot directed to her head".
Other victims included Alex Sullivan who was celebrate his 27th birthday and his first wedding anniversary. 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.
Just before the shooting, Alex sent his final tweet: 'Oh man one hour till the movie and its going to be the best BIRTHDAY ever'.
"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." The Sullivan family later issued a statement in rememberance of their son.
"The Sullivan family lost a cherished member of their family today. Alex was smart, funny and, above all, loved dearly by his friends and family. Today was his 27th birthday. They respectfully ask that the media allow them time to grieve privately.
"They will not be giving interviews in the near term. Please honor their wishes by refraining from contacting them on private numbers or at their home while they come to terms with this tremendous loss."
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.
On her Facebook profile Micayla had writtren, "My name is Micayla, but everyone usually calls me Cayla. I'm a simple independant girl who's just trying to get her life together while still having fun".
