AURORA, Colo. — Seven years have passed since the tragic killing inside an Aurora movie theater.

Twelve people died on July 20, 2012 when the gunman opened fire during the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."

RELATED : The 7/20 Memorial will be dedicated July 27

The following memorials were written by friends and family shortly after they found out about their loved one's death:


Jon Blunk, 26, died protecting his girlfriend Jansen Young











AJ Boik, 18, dream of becoming an art teacher

Alexander Jonathan (AJ) Boik, an 18-year-old Gateway High School graduate, according to friends "wanted everyone to be happy."

A popular young man, his friends put up a facebook page to allow people to share memories and offer their thoughts and condolences.

Boik's family released the following statement the Saturday following the tragedy:





Jesse Childress, 29, was an Air Force reservist who was serving at Buckley Air Force Base. He put himself in front of bullets to save his friend Munirih Gravelly's life

Air Force Reservist Jesse Childress attended the Batman midnight showing with colleagues from Buckley Air Force Base where he was currently stationed.

Much like John Larimer, a Navy Serviceman who also lost his life during the attack, Childress put his body between the gunman and that of his friend - an action the friend, Munirih Gravelly, is sure saved her life.

Jesse is remembered by those he worked with as simply a "good man." A man who would go out of his way to help out whoever needed him.

Jesse was similarly remembered by those who knew him in California. Former teachers and coaches used the very same words to describe him. Jesse was also fondly remembered by neighbors in Lake Los Angeles who say he was a quiet, but fun-loving person.

Jesse served as part of the 310th Force Support Squadron as a cyber-systems operator.


Gordon Cowden, 51, attended the movie with his two daughters: then 17-year-old Brooke and then-16-year-old Cierra who were not physically injured during the shooting.

Gordon Cowden with his last moments left his daughters with words that he hoped would stay with them far longer than the horrifying events of the Aurora theater shooting.

"I love you! I love you both!"

Gordon will be remembered as a man with a great sense of humor, a man of strong faith and a father who absolutely adored his children.

Gordon attended the movie with two of his teenage children, 17-year-old Brooke and 16-year-old Cierra, both of whom managed to avoid injury.

Gordon was the oldest of the victims, at 51 years of age, and worked as a real estate appraiser.


Jessica Ghawi, 24, was a sports reporter




"I want people to remember that heart and remember the good things that she's done; remember that smile and what her possibilities, what her prospects, what she could have done in the future."










John Larimer, 27, was a Navy serviceman who saved his girlfriend Julia Vojtsek's life (she was not physically injured in the shooting)

John Larimer went to see The Dark Knight Rises with girlfriend, Julia Vojtsek. So excited was John to see the movie that when hearing that people were dressing up, he stopped by a local store to buy a Batman t-shirt, mask and cape.

John's youthful enthusiasm was matched by his serious dedication to the US Navy, the service to which he belonged.

A superior officer, Cmdr. Jeffrey Jakuboski spoke highly of John.


Cmdr. Jakuboski spoke of losing John as feeling as if he had lost a son.

Julia Vojtsek avoided injury during the attack, a fact she attributes entirely to the bravery of John, who she says covered her with his body and was hit with bullets which she felt certain could have struck her. In a written statement, Julie said the following:


Whether serving his country or protecting those close to him, John will be remembered for his bravery, quick thinking and instincts.

He will be remembered as a hero.

John, graduated from Illinois high school, Crystal Lake South, and then graduated with a degree in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin and died at the age of 27.


Matt McQuinn, 27, was killed in the shooting. He and his brother covered Matt's girlfriend Samantha Yowler's body during the shooting.

Famous for their elaborate Halloween costumes and fun-loving attitudes, Matt McQuinn, 27, and girlfriend Samantha Yowler, moved to Colorado from Ohio in November 2011.

Matt and Samantha are remembered by friends as a loving couple. Kellie Wall, a Target co-worker of Matt's described how he would bring Samantha lunch.


And the couple's love was evident.


Matt went to the movie with Samantha and her brother, Nick, who also lives in Colorado.

When the gunfire started, both Nick and Matt covered Samantha with their bodies to protect her from the bullets. Nick miraculously avoided injury, Samantha suffered a gun shot wound to her knee and tragically, Matt was fatally shot.

Matt's stepfather told the Dayton Daily News he wasn't surprised that Matt would sacrifice himself for Samantha. Matt's first thought, he said, would be for his girlfriend.



Micayla Medek, 23, was saving up for a trip she wanted to take to India

Micayla, or "Calya" to her friends, was a 23-year-old "simple independent girl who's just trying to get her life together while still having fun" according to her Facebook page.

Cayla was the youngest of three children, but never stepped away from doing things her way. Cayla proudly attended the Community College of Aurora while working at Subway as a Sandwich Artist - and while she saved money for a trip to India, she refused to accept any help and showing her independence by paying her way through the classes she had taken.

Cayla loved fairies, Hello Kitty, and Beanie Babies.


Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, was the youngest victim in the shooting.

Veronica was the youngest of the victims of the shooting at the age of six.

Veronica was described as a sweet and intelligent young girl, who liked Disney princesses and was excited about life - as any 6-year-old should be. She had just started swimming lessons earlier that week.

The young are full of potential, and Veronica was no different.

Veronica was at the movie with her mother, Ashley, who was also shot multiple times in the attack.

Ashley, who was pregnant at the time of the shooting, remained in critical condition during the days following. Ashley continues to face challenges with paralysis. Sadly, her unborn child did not survive.


Alex Sullivan, 27, was a bartender at Red Robin at the time of the shooting. Many of his coworkers attended that night with him. He was celebrating his 27th birthday.

Alex Sullivan, known as a movie buff, was celebrating his 27th birthday by going to see The Dark Knight Rises, tweeting an hour before the movie started that it was going to be "the best BIRTHDAY ever." He attended the movie with several coworkers, some of whom were injured during the attack.

Alex is survived by his wife, Cassandra. The following Sunday, July 22, would have been the couple's first wedding anniversary. Alex is also survived by his father Tom Sullivan, mother Terry Sullivan, and sister Megan Sullivan.

Alex is described by friends as a big man, in stature - standing a full 6' 4" - and in heart. His good humor served him well in his job as a bartender at a local Red Robin. In a statement released by his family, Alex was remembered as "smart, funny, and above all loved dearly by his friends and family."

A statement made to the Denver Post by co-worker Derek Smith encapsulates the thoughts of Alex's many friends and family.

"Ah, man, I'm going to miss that dude, I really am."


Alex Teves, 24, died protecting his girlfriend Amanda Lindgren

There are good people in this world and 24-year-old Alex Teves was one of them.


The two went to college together and were really close.





Teves' is the oldest of three children. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology and more recently received his masters degree from the University of Denver in psychological counseling.




Alex Teves' family released the following statement:




Rebecca Wingo, 32, had two daughters at the time of the shooting.

Robert Wingo decided there was no other way to tell his two young daughters that their mother died. So on Friday night, when he returned home, he told them the truth.

"[My youngest] asked, 'Daddy, what's wrong? Why are you acting so funny?' I said, 'baby, mommy died today. She was in the theater shooting,'" Wingo recalled on Monday.

Robert Wingo and Rebecca Wingo divorced in 2008 but remained close in large part due to their two daughters.

"We lived about four miles apart," he said. "Their school is right in the middle."

Recently, Robert and Rebecca developed the kind of friendship that had made Robert incredibly comfortable to be around his ex-wife.

"Rebecca was the show," Wingo said. "She often gave away her last dollar. She would do anything for anybody."

When they lived in Hawaii, he said, she came upon a feral cat in the jungle and decided to take it home.

"If you talk to people at church, she's the person who sits in the front pew. Nobody but the old ladies do that, but not Rebecca," Wingo said.

Their two daughters are ages 9 and 5. Wingo said their youngest is still having a difficult time processing the news.

"The way she's acting. She thinks there is going to be an end to daddy time and then it's going to be mommy time," he said. "That's what's really tough."

But he said he believes his daughters will continually remind strangers of what and who their mother undoubtedly was.

"They are confident, precocious, engaging little women, and a lot of that is because of what [Rebecca] poured into them," Wingo said.