It’s been 4 years today. . . but it never feels far away. It was July 20th, 2012 when a gunman opened fire inside Theater 9 of the Century Aurora 16 movie theater during a midnight showing of the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises.” 12 moviegoers were killed and another 70 were injured in the attack.
Today, many Coloradans are gathering in Aurora for ceremonies to remember all the victims:
26-year-old Jonathan Blunk
18-year-old Alexander Boik
29-year-old Jesse Childress
51-year-old Gordon Cowden
24-year-old Jessica Ghawi
27-year-old John Thomas Larimer
27-year-old Matt McQuinn
23-year-old Micayla Medek
6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan
27-year-old Alex Sullivan
24-year-old Alex Teves
32-year-old Rebecca Wingo
Last night, at the exact time that the shootings began in 2012, citizens joined with the Aurora Police Department for their annual remembrance motorcade. Hundreds of people are also expected at a special memorial service for the victims to be held tonight at the Aurora Municipal Building starting at 6:30.
A foundation dedicated to honoring the lives of those who were lost, the 7-20 Memorial Foundation, is working to raise enough funds to build a memorial garden near the theater. The foundation is about halfway to its’ goal of $200,000 and hopes to have the garden started by next year.
