Sacrifice of Colorado gun victim hailed

A man who threw himself in front of his girlfriend and saved her life during the Colorado movie shooting has been remembered for his selfless sacrifice, while an aspiring sports journalist was praised for her boundless energy.

The girlfriend Matt McQuinn saved by taking three bullets aimed at her wept as pastors spoke of the senselessness of the shooting spree at the suburban Denver theatre where 12 people were killed just more than a week ago.

Mourners packed a church in the western Ohio town of Springfield where Mr McQuinn was from, the same morning that others came together in San Antonio to remember another shooting victim, 24-year-old Jessica Ghawi. Other victims’ funerals were held last week, and more are set for next week.

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When gunfire broke out in the Aurora cinema, Mr McQuinn, 27, hurled himself in front of his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, and was shot three times.

Ms Yowler, who was shot in the knee and survived, arrived at Mr McQuinn’s funeral on crutches and wept quietly with his parents and other family during the funeral. Neither she nor his parents addressed Maiden Lane Church of God.

Pastor Dan Fiorini said: “I know you’re asking in your heart of hearts, why? Why was Matt there? Why was a gunman allowed to enter that theatre? Why was he able to purchase guns and ammunition so easily? Why didn’t God do something?” Pastor Fiorini said he could not answer any of those questions.

Mourners at Ms Ghawi’s funeral also touched briefly on the massacre. “If this coward could have done this with this much hate, imagine what we can do with this much love,” her brother told the church in San Antonio.

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Her boyfriend, Jay Meloff, noted that others described her as “a tough, redheaded spitfire”, and she was, but that he also saw “a beautiful, warm-hearted and passionate woman with a capacity for love”.

James Holmes, a 24-year-old former doctoral student, is accused of opening fire on the theatre. He will be formally charged today.