It's Only a Movie!...With a Bad Ending. by mikeerson
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Description
July 20th, 2012, First showing of the New Batman movie, Midnight...
12 people were killed when a gunman barged into a crowded Colorado theater, set off gas canisters and opened fire as spectators dove for cover. Dozens of others were injured, including 11 in critical condition.
Alex Sullivan planned to ring in his 27th birthday with friends at a special midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" and then celebrate his first wedding anniversary on Sunday.
Late Friday, Sullivan's family confirmed that police told them he was among those killed.
Micayla Medek, 23, was also among the dead, her father's cousin, Anita Busch, told the Associated Press.
Busch said the news, while heartbreaking, was a relief for the family after an agonizing day of waiting for news.
"I hope this evil act ... doesn't shake people's faith in God," she said.
A blogger who recently wrote of surviving a Toronto shooting was also among those killed, the woman's brother said.
The death of Jessica Ghawi, who was also known as Jessica Redfield, was a "complete and utter shock," said her brother, Jordan Ghawi.
He has been using his blog and Twitter account to update what he knew about his sister's condition throughout the day. He also appeared on the NBC "Today" show.
Jordan Ghawi said on his website that a man who was with his sister at the theater described the chaos, saying he and Jessica Ghawi dropped to take cover when the gunman first started shooting. Jessica Ghawi was shot in the leg, her brother wrote, describing details relayed to him by a man identified on the blog only as a mutual friend named Brent.
Jessica Ghawi began screaming when she was shot, and the friend tried to calm her and stop the bleeding, according to Jordan Ghawi.
The man was then shot, but he continued attending to Jessica Ghawi's wound before he realized she had stopped screaming, Jordan Ghawi stated. The man said Jessica Ghawi had been shot in the head.
Jordan Ghawi said the friend escaped the theater after being shot twice, but he was expected to survive. Jordan Ghawi praised the man, saying his "actions are nothing but heroic."
Jessica Ghawi, 24, moved to Denver from Texas about a year ago and friends and colleagues described her as outgoing, smart and witty.
"She was always kind of a sponge as far as how she could be an even better journalist and sports broadcaster," said Peter Burns, a radio sports show host with Mile High Sports Radio in Denver, where Ghawi recently interned.
Ghawi blogged at length about surviving the Eaton Centre mall shooting in Toronto that killed two people and sent several others to the hospital. Burns and his girlfriend, Lauren Anuskewicz, both said the blog reflected everything she told them.
"She was like, 'You guys would never believe what happened,'" Anuskewicz said.
Jessica Ghawi wrote of the Toronto shooting: "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."
Anuskewicz said Jessica Ghawi had been in Toronto visiting a boyfriend and "it obviously was a very scary situation."
"And to be just so close to it," she added. "It's just impossible to imagine that not even a month and a half later this would happen, and she would be involved. It's just awful."
Yet, Burns said, Jessica Ghawi seemed more enlivened than intimidated by surviving that shooting.
"After the Toronto incident, I think she even looked at that like, 'Hey, even after that, I'm able to pursue my dream,'" he said.
Jessica Ghawi last tweet stated in all capital letters, "movie doesn't start for 20 minutes."
On Saturday morning, parents of John Larimer released a statement that Navy officials notified them about midnight that their 27-year-old son was one of the 12 killed.
By MEAD GRUVER | Associated Press
Comments (58)
tennesseecowgirl
My daughter and her husband just bought a new house in Aurora and are on their way there now they had left Thursday night, and woke up to this news on Friday. Unbelievable. My other daughter works at a movie theater, she said the next day people were coming back for refunds because they were scared and that now they have to check everyone's backpacks and purses for weapons. But as I understand it the shooter, had purchased a ticket came in and then left through the exit and returned with the weapons so I am not sure what checking bags will do. Nice work on this but I would have like it better if you would have included the victims names instead of the killer and his photos.
crunch01
great dedi buddy so so so sad
mikeerson
I chose to tell the tale of a survivor of the Toronto incident... I posted the killer's face because he looks normal, went to college and from what I hear, he only had one speeding ticket on his police report - it is very disturbing to have a gunman shoot down people in a movie theatre... I wanted to show how a normal person can just lose it - the thing is, he PLANNED THIS.
STEVIEUKWONDER
Frankly Mike, the coverage over here has been rather pointless. The comentators have been all but useless and I have learned more in your brief description that all the film coverage I have seen. If anything, we should be allowed by the BBC to mourn in our own way about this tragedy. 12 lives wasted! So very sad! Unbelieveable! Excellent presnetation Mike! Steve :)
eekdog
man o man Mike looks like you really worked very hard on this bro. no matter somehow a bad guy is going to get in, either by himself or with help. i have no solutions for such horrible situations like this Mike. you really did your homework well my friend. i have heard alot that you have mentioned from the news in this. great job of collecting the covers. the world has colorado in their thoughts. i'm amazed this asshole his not take his own life. i even heard the statment by Mr. Bail about this tragic day.
SidheRoseGraphics
He bought a ticket and came in with everyone else, but he had all of his gear and weapons stashed outside one of the exits. He went out and put on his gear and armed himself and came back in. This is what I read. He did not bring all of that in with him when he entered the theater. A nice dedi Mike.
bakapo
so very sad. way too sad. my heart truely does break for all those involved there (and also for those of us who remain to live in fear of leaving our front door. are we not safe anywhere?) nice dedication, Mike.
RodS
I probably shouldn't say this, but it too damn bad the police didn't cap this pathetic waste of DNA in the parking lot. It's bad enough to lose someone - or your own life - in an accident, or combat. But something this sensless.... I just don't understand the idiots that go out and just kill innocents for a few moments of fame... My heart goes out to the families of the victims. A very well done dedication, Mike. Colorado has had more than its share of tragedy this summer...
Faemike55
Very beautiful dedication to the fallen, especially Jessica. My thoughts and prayers to all families
brycek
Nice dedication..my thoughts and prayers to all!!
Stratkat
Every word you speak is SO true. WE are here for a VERY VERY Short time, and even know we all know it's a temporary visit here on Planet Earth. I can't believe the pain the families must be going through. For them it must seem an eternity. Excellent Work Mike, Excellent.
FaeMoon
I hate that this has happened, and I am so sad for the victims and the families. Someone said they would now stop people from going in costume to movies over this one incident. I am sad that it would prevent the fun of many just because of one person's insanity. Good work on this one, Mike.
mrestey
This is EXACTLY why ALL Americans should exercise their right to bear arms! So that they will have a fighting chance against the criminals who carry arms ILLEGALLY people!!! A sad reminder of how easily evil triumphs over the innocent or good when good is left defenseless. Perhaps THEN these victims would not have been at the mercy of waiting for law enforcement to respond. God bless the families of the victims!
jocko500
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUqJALAViJ8 may help you what going on and bigger, worst things comeing .. yes it is sad times you did a good job
KatesFriend
Well said.
zil2008
What a travisty AGAIN! After the Toronto shooting we where talking about how to prevent these things from happening. I had said it was difficult because we never know who will snap next and do this again. Unfortunately it was just a few days later and this horrible incident in Colorado. Yes, he looks normal but they all do. So how do you know who is going to snap next?????????? WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCIETY. My heart is broken for the families of the victims. So many lives effected and changed forever. Lets pray for peace in the World.
mgtcs
Amazing composition and dedication your have a great heart my friend, my thoughts and prayers are with all families!
clbsmiley
Great post Mike. Scary chaos... God Bless All.
magnus073
This is such a tragic event Mike, and really hits home with so many people. No one can properly define the fear and anguish the families are going through, and it is important to keep all of them in our prayers during this time. May God watch over everyone involved, especially those still clinging to life in critical condition and their families
xansplace
Great dedication Mike..This is so sad...:(
renecyberdoc
on one hand i am speechless,unable to follow such a distorted brains (mine is distorted as well but only in my renders lol).anyway,now the so called experts call for a ban on pc games,weapons,violence in movies etc. the problem sits much deeper,as i mentionned before the sperms are getting rotten,in 2 generations time we will have 99 % of the populace beeing idiots we are already at 90 %. i avoid crowds and only go out with the dogs and do my groceries etc. in fact i try to avoid humans in general as best as i can. my thoughts go out to the families.
Magick_Lady
He must have planned it cause on the news over here in Belgium they say that he has more explosives and rockets etc in his apartment that the police is disarming , who knows what else he planned and plans to do . God bless us all
rocdan
Great dedication
1010
Words escape me for such a horrific incident.
stick
Great dedication. What kind of a person does such a terrible act. Killing innocent people who just want to see a movie.
UteBigSmile
This is so sad!
vitachick
Great dedication..Truly a sad moment...What ever possessed him to do this?
mikeerson
We may never know the answer.... but, I've seen people in interviews that knew him and they said he always rooted for the Joker over Batman and when the police were arresting him, he said he was the Joker. He goes to court Monday and the Judge has already given permission for cameras in the court room. This guy planned this for months. He was ordering weapons and amo over the net, he bought weapons here in town - all of them LEAGAL!.... The police should of got word on this guys behaviors. ...the Security at the theater should of been on their toes because it was a special engagement.... after you've heard so much about this (I live in Colorado, 30 minutes from where this happened) you realize 12 people dead is a blessing - he had a minute and thirty seconds - he had the brains to make bombs.... yeah, it was Horrible, but it could and should of been a lot worse, HE EVEN SURENDERED instead of having a shootout with the cops - and on the same note, security should of been alerted he went out the back door, the DOOR was ajar, so the alarm should of kept going off. I've been in Security to get access to roofs when I use to work for Restaurant Ductwork cleaning - I know malls have at least 50 viewing monitors and can zoom in and read what is on a busines card in a parking lot.... The security dropped the ball on this guy.
lyron
Great dedication!!
anitalee
So crazy and sad. Nice dedication