Aurora Victims Names And Stories Begin To Emerge

Although officials have not released details of the victims identities, several of them have been identified by their families and friends.

1. Alex Sullivan

Alex Sullivan was planning to have a great weekend celebrating his 27th birthday and his first wedding anniversary that was coming up Sunday. His last Facebook update reads “#TheDarkKnightRises OMG COUNTING down till it start cant wait going to be the best birthday ever.”

Source: facebook.com

A photograph of theater shooting victim Alex Sullivan and his wife Cassie are shown, Saturday, July 21, 2012, at a memorial near the movie theater in Aurora, Colo.

Image by Ted S. Warren / AP

3. Matt McQuinn

Matt McQuinn died shielding his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, from the bullets sprayed by the gunman. Yowler survived and is recovering after undergoing surgery. McQuinn’s family’s lawyer credited McQuinn and Samantha’s brother with saving the woman’s life.

Via: facebook.com

4. John Larimer

Larimer was a U.S. Navy sailor. His commander Jeffrey Jakuboski said “I am incredibly saddened by the loss of Petty Officer John Larimer — he was an outstanding shipmate. 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.”

Image by AP / AP

5. Jessica Ghawi (Redfield)

Ghawi, 24, who wrote under the name Jessica Redfield, interned at Mile High Sports Radio and wrote for the sports website Busted Coverage. She was an avid hockey fan who moved to Colorado to follow her dream of being a sports reporter. Her last blog entry was about escaping a mall shooting in Toronto.

Via: @JessicaRedfield

6. Jon Blunk

Jon Blunk’s girlfriend Jansen said on the Today Show that he was fatally shot after he pushed her under a seat. She said “I know I would not be here today if Jon had not been next to me in that movie theater.”

Via: nydailynews.com

7. Micayla Medek

Medek, 23, worked at Subway sandwich shop and described herself on facebook as “a simple independant girl who’s just trying to get her life together while still having fun.”

Via: facebook.com

8. AJ Boik

AJ was a high school student and his friends have posted loving rememberances of him on facebook and twitter.

Via: facebook.com

9. Rebecca Wingo

Jessica Wingo was 32 years old. Steve Hernandez, Wingo’s father, wrote on 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.”

Via: facebook.com

Veronica Moser

Veronica just started swimming lessons. Her great aunt said “She was excited about life as she should be. She’s a 6-year-old girl.” Her 15-year-old cousin said “She was just a radiant happy, little girl. She was just so happy. She could brighten anyone’s day.” Veronica’s mother Ashley was also seriously wounded and is in critical condition at the hospital.

Jesse Childress

An Air Force statement released today said 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Jesse Childress was among the 12 killed.