Aurora remembers: Community honors victims of the theater shooting with vigil, procession
Aurora Police Department Ofc. Ryan Burke becomes emotional during the 12th annual Aurora theater shooting remembrance vigil at the Aurora Water Wise Garden in Aurora, Colo. Saturday, July 20, 2024. Burke was one of the first officers on scene at the AMC Century 16 Theater 12 years ago and came in through the lobby that fateful morning. (Photo by Bear Gutierrez/Special to The Denver Gazette)
Bear Gutierrez/Special to The Denver Gazette
Dozens and dozens of family, friends, first responders and mourners of the 12th anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting gathered at Aurora’s Water Wise Garden to pay tribute to those lost and thank the first responders.
Events included a procession and a candlelight vigil near the former Aurora Century 16 Theater (currently Cinemark Century Aurora and XD) where a gunman killed 12 and injured 70 more during the midnight showing of Batman “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Victims slain were: Jonathan Blunk, 26, Alexander J. Boik, 18, Jesse Childress, 29, Gordon Cowden, 51, Jessica Ghawi (also went by Jessica Redfield), 24, John Larimer, 27, Matt McQuinn, 27, Micayla Medek, 23, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, Alex Sullivan, 27, Alexander C. Teves, 24, and Rebecca Wingo, 32.
Unidentified attendee’s lays flowers in the 7/20 Memorial Foundation Reflection Garden Memorial During the 12th annual Aurora theater shooting remembrance vigil in Aurora, Colo. Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Bear Gutierrez)
Bear Gutierrez/Special to The Denver Gazette
Unidentified attendee’s lays flowers in the 7/20 Memorial Foundation Reflection Garden Memorial During the 12th annual Aurora theater shooting remembrance vigil in Aurora, Colo. Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Bear Gutierrez)
The 7/20 Memorial Foundation organized the vigil at the city’s Memorial Foundation Reflection Garden. Volunteers gave a white rose to each first responder as they exited their vehicles after the procession and joined the crowd.
A vigil has happened every year at midnight on the anniversary of the shooting, remembering those who lost their lives.
Survivors met for a reception at the the Aurora Municipal Center before events began at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday events brings together artists, musicians and community resource providers to honor the anniversary of the shooting.
“It gives me hope, seeing the community come together and see that everyone is there for each other and comforting each other,” Heather Dearman, the CEO of the 7/20 Memorial Foundation, said. “I see and hear from a lot of people who come to the event about how healing it is for them.”
This weekend, Aurora is hosting a series of events in annual remembrance of the Aurora theater shooting in 2012.
The events will happen at Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. sponsored by the 7/20 Memorial Foundation, which hosts the Day of Resilience every year on the anniversary of the shooting.
The foundation called it a day of “healing and sharing and family fun.”
At 8 a.m. Saturday, the Heroes Run 5K took off from the Municipal Center. The run was organized by shooting survivor, firefighter and former NFL player Zack Golditch.
Money from the 5K will go toward an athletic scholarship for an Aurora Public Schools student. There will also be a Kids Run.
From 8 a.m. to noon, the Reflection Garden on Tap festival will have beer from local breweries, food trucks, live music from School of Rock and booths from organizations who assist with healing.
Chalk artists will be drawing live in the memorial garden throughout the event, with art representing the theme of resilience.
The event is free and wristbands for the beer garden are $35 on the organization’s website or $40 at the event.
Denver Gazette reporter Kyla Pearce and freelance photographer Barry Gutierrez contributed to this report.