Victims of Aurora theater shooting honored on anniversary of tragedy

On the third anniversary of the deadly Aurora theater shooting, hundreds gathered in Aurora to offer support and comfort.

Community leaders planned several vigils around the city to honor the 12 lives lost and survivors of the July, 2012 massacre.

At a vigil outside the Aurora Municipal Center, Taylor Grosbach held a sign with photos of her friend, AJ Boik.

“We were in high school together. We were in orchestra,” Grosbach said. “I just remember so many good memories about him.”

Another prayer service and candlelight vigil was held at the Potter’s House of Denver, about four miles away from Century Aurora, where the shooting happened.

Stefan Moton, a shooting survivor, spoke publicly for the first time, thanking the community for its support.

“It keeps me positive and everybody else that was a victim, it gives us strength to be better every day,” Moton said.

Church leaders at the Potter’s House planted 13 trees outside of the church one year ago, one for each victim of the shooting and another for the unborn child of Ashley Moser who miscarried during surgery after the shooting.

In addition to having been shot three times, becoming paralyzed and losing her unborn child, Moser’s 6-year-old daughter, Veronica, was killed in the shooting.

Moser’s cousin, Heather Dearman, addressed the crowd of hundreds, saying the gesture was special to her and her family.

A jury last week convicted gunman James Holmes of killing the 12 people and wounding dozens more on July 20, 2012.

On Monday, attorneys began debating jury instructions for the death penalty phase of Holmes’ trial.