Lost Lives: Victims of Aurora massacre remembered

Profiles of the victims Credit: ITV News

Of the 12 killed by gunman James Holmes on July 20, 2012, the oldest was aged 51 and the youngest was just 6.

Jessica Ghawi, 24

Jessica Ghawi was an aspiring sports journalist from Texas. She moved to Denver from San Antonio last year and had just avoided a deadly shooting in Canada on June 2.

Just moments before the shooting she had tweeting about how excited she was to see the film.

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6

Six-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan had just learned to swim. Her family described her as "vibrant" and "excitable." Her aunt said she "loved to dress up and was doing well at school."

Her mother, Ashley Moser, survived the attack but lost her unborn baby and is now a quadriplegic. She was shot in the neck and stomach trying to protect her daughter.

John Larimer, 27

John Larima was one of two active duty service members killed in the shooting. Credit: Family handout

John Larima came from a military family and joined the Navy a year before the shooting. He was stationed at the US Fleet Cyber Command station at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.

Originally from a suburb of Chicago he was described by his commanding officer Jeffrey Jakuboski as "an outstanding shipmate."

Alexander 'AJ' Boik, 18

Alexander, known as AJ, dreamed of becoming an art teacher. Credit: Family handout

AJ Boik was a student at Gateway High School who dreamed of becoming an art teacher and opening his own art studio.

He had just been accepted into art college and was at the movie with his girlfriend, who survived the shooting.

AJ's family described him as a young man with a "warm and loving heart" whilst friends said he was "the life of the party" who could "bring a smile to anyone's face."

Jesse Childress, 29

Jesse Childress thew himself over a friend to protect her. Credit: Air Force handout

Jesse Childress was an Air Force reservist and cyber systems operator on active duty at the Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado.

He was at the cinema that night with colleagues and threw himself overa female officer saving her life.

Originally from Thornton in Colorado, his commanding officer Pat Walsh told The Denver Post:

Jonathan Blunk, 26

Jonathan Blunk and his girlfriend Jansen who survived. Credit: Family handout

Jon Blunk was a father-of-two who had served in the navy for five years.

He was at the movie with his girlfriend Jansen, who hailed him a hero after he died shielding her from gunfire.

She told NBC News Blunk kept pushing her with his arms to the ground as she heard shots being fired.

Rebecca Ann Wingo, 32

Rebecca Ann Wingo had just moved to Aurora to start a new job. Credit: Family handout

Rebecca Ann Wingo was a single mum-of-two daughters and a veteran of the US Air Force where she served as a Chinese translator.

Originally from Quinlan, Texas, she had just moved to Aurora to start a new job at a mobile medical imaging company.

In an emotional Facebook post about his loss her father Steve Fernandez wrote:

Alex Sullivan, 27

Alex Sullivan died on his 27th birthday. Credit: Family handout

Alex was celebrating his 27th birthday the day he died and was due to celebrate his first wedding anniversary the Sunday after the killing spree.

He graduated from Grandview High School in 2003 and studied culinary arts.

His friend Shelly Fradkin told the La Times:

Gordon Cowden, 51

Gordon Cowden was at the cinema with his two children who survived. Credit: Family handout

Gordon Cowden was a small business owner who was at the cinema with his two teenage children that night.

The oldest of the victims, his family described him as a "a true Texas gentleman who loved life and his family."

Micayla Medek, 23

Known as Cayla to her friends, Micayla was saving up for a trip to India. Credit: Family handout

Micayla Medek was the youngest child of Greg and Rena. She worked in subway and was saving money to travel to India.

Her father said she loved Hello Kitty, hot pink, fairies and feather boas and described her as "a sweetheart angel girl."

Alexander Teves, 24

Alex Teves had recently graduated and was planning to study for a doctorate. Credit: Family handout

Alex Teves had recently graduated from a master's degree in counselling psychology at the University of Denver.

He was at the cinema with his girlfriend Amanda, who survived the attack.

Teves' father told ABC news he had "a heart of gold" whilst his friend Caitlin, who was with him at the cinema, said:

Matthew McQuinn, 27

Matthew McQuinn saved his girlfriend. His brother also survived. Credit: Family handout

Matthew McQuinn threw himself in front of his longtime girlfriend Samatha Yowler saving her life.

According to the Dayton Daily News, the pair met working together at a Target store in Springfield, Ohio and moved to Aurora together.

Matthew's brother Nick was at the cinema with them and also survived.