Colorado shooting victims named

A sports blogger who recently wrote about surviving a shooting in Canada. A man preparing to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. A six-year-old girl. A young woman whose death announcement brought heartbreak, yet closure, to her family.

They were among the 12 people killed when a gunman barged into a crowded Colorado theatre, set off gas canisters and opened fire as spectators dove for cover. Dozens of others were injured, including 11 in critical condition.

Colorado authorities on Saturday released the names of the dead — eight men, three women and one girl. All died of gunshot wounds, according to the release by the Arapahoe County coroner's office.

Six-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan was among them, and her mother, Ashley Moser, is in critical condition with a bullet in the throat and in the abdomen. Moser has been drifting in and out of consciousness in a hospital intensive care unit. In her waking moments, she calls for her daughter, but nobody has had the heart to tell the 25-year-old that Veronica is dead.

"All she's asking about, of course, is her daughter," Ashley Moser's aunt Annie Dalton said. "She was a vibrant six-year-old. She was excited, she'd just learned how to swim. She was a great little girl, excited about life — she should be at six years old."

One of the 12, Matthew McQuinn, has been tentatively identified and is awaiting final identification, though his family's lawyer confirmed to The Associated Press that McQuinn was among those killed.

For Alex Sullivan, it was to be a weekend of fun: He planned to ring in his 27th birthday with friends at the 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.

"He was a very, very good young man," said Sullivan's uncle, Joe Loewenguth. "He always had a smile, always made you laugh. He had a little bit of comic in him. Witty, smart. He was loving, had a big heart."

Micayla Medek, 23, was also among the dead. Her father's cousin, Anita 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.

Also, two servicemen were revealed to be victims. The parents of 27-year-old John Larimer, a U.S. navy sailor, released a statement saying Larimer's brother Noel is working with the navy to bring his body back home to Crystal Lake, Ill. 

An air force reservist also was among the victims. Sgt. Jesse Childress, 29, was a cyber-systems operator, the U.S. air force said in a statement. Another reservist was treated and released after being wounded in the shootings.

A blogger and aspiring sportscaster who recently wrote of surviving the Eatons Centre shooting in Toronto in early June was also among those killed. The death of Jessica Ghawi, who was also known as Jessica Redfield, was a "complete and utter shock," said her brother, Jordan Ghawi. 

Ghawi, 24, moved to Denver from Texas about a year ago and friends and colleagues described her as outgoing, smart and witty.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said Friday evening that 10 victims died at the theatre and two others later died from their injuries.

The other victims were Alexander J. Boik, Jonathan T. Blunk, Rebecca Ann Wingo, Alexander C. Teves and 51-year-old Gordon Cowden, the oldest victim, according to the coroner's office.

The White House announced Saturday night that President Barack Obama plans to fly to Colorado on Sunday to visit with the victims of the shootings and the families.