Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Remarks by President Obama at Colorado Memorial; People to Gather, Pray in Aurora; Escaping the Rampage's Horror; Gunshop Owner Leery of Holmes; President Obama Meets with Aurora Victims' Families

Aired July 22, 2012 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, it is the top of the hour and we have some more news for you.

Good evening, everyone. Top of the hour. I am live in Aurora, Colorado. Let's get you now to another part of Aurora where people are coming together to pray and share their sadness after this very profound tragedy.

Kyung Lah is there.

Kyung, this is going to start moments from now. Tell us what's going to happen very shortly there.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you can already see that the crowd has gathered behind me. You have -- and take a look at this crowd, Don. This is the community. It is a diverse community. People from all walks of life, all different ages, all socio-economic backgrounds, and from this vantage point, from eye-level, it's really difficult for you to tell how many people are here.

But I spoke with a police officer and he told me there are easily thousands of people who have gathered here, who have come out in public, despite what has happened, despite some of their apprehension of coming to a large crowd gathering. A lot of people have come to hear the governor, the mayor, victims, family members, and first responders who are all going to be gathering here at this prayer vigil.

While this prayer vigil is happening, there are also people in the hospital. We don't want to forget about them. They are still trying to recover from their physical wounds and remarkably, I spoke with one man, and he says what he is focusing on is yes, his physical recovery. But also moving forward with his own emotional recovery by working to forgive the gunman. Here's what he told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERCE O'FARRILL, SHOOTING VICTIM: I can't imagine what it would be like to get out of bed in the morning and plan something like that and just to have that -- just that darkness, to just want to hurt people like that.

LAH: Are you angry at him?

O'FARRILL: No, not at all. Like I said, I feel -- I feel sorrow for him because I can't imagine living that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: And I spoke with another victim in the hospital. He was also hit by the gunman's bullets and he says that unlike Mr. O'Farrill, he doesn't have that forgiveness in his heart. He is not sure if he's ever going to get there. So we're seeing a community on all different levels, trying to come to grips with this, reacting in different ways.

This, Don, is going to be a big setting for all those walks of life trying to come together and take that step forward. And we are expecting that this vigil, official program beginning at the bottom of the hour. But you're starting to hear some of the music warm up behind me. This is really -- just a little bit of an interlude until the official program starts -- Don.

LEMON: And I can see the crowd -- hey, Kyung, I'm not sure of how much room you have there but if we can see the crowd, if you can step aside just a little, and if you want to describe to us what you're seeing there. I see people pretty -- shoulder-to-shoulder behind you?

LAH: Yes. And it's really remarkable. I mean just looking at their faces, it's the community that you see as we travel around town. Some people are carrying flowers. Many of them look very, very moved. We don't know what all of their stories are behind these faces. But this is the community of Aurora who has come out to pray, to come together and to try to heal.

Something else I want to point out is -- and I don't think we see anybody right here, but further back in the crowd I noticed that several people are wearing Batman T-shirts. And the reason why that they're wearing Batman T-shirts is that they to take the ugliness of the shooting at the Batman movie away from the shooter. They want it to be something that they see as a sign of hope, a symbolism that this community will rise again. So they are trying to take the power out of the crime by wearing that Batman symbol here at this prayer vigil -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Kyung Lah, thank you very much. We'll be getting back to where Kyung is just moments from now, as soon as that starts. We're watching live coverage now of the shooting tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. We're going to be following that memorial service as well as the president's remarks when he speaks at any moment -- any moment now.

Also I want to tell you that many people in the theater were sitting with friends, they were sitting with families, when the shooting began. And our next guest was with her two daughters and was fortunate enough to escape the rampage.

Marie Isom joins us now with her 16-year-old daughter, Michelle.

Thank you both for joining us. Obviously you're very upset, I can tell just by you demeanor and just from speaking with you earlier. How are you guys doing?

MARIE ISOM, SURVIVED SHOOTING IN THEATER: I think as well as can be expected.

LEMON: Yes. How are you doing?

MICHELLE ISOM, 16-YEAR-OLD SURVIVED SHOOTING IN THEATER: Like she said, as well as can be expected.

LEMON: Yes. You threw yourself over your daughter, your 14-year-old daughter? Correct? Your 14-year-old daughter is named Elizabeth. Why -- she didn't want to come and speak because?

MARIE ISOM: She's really struggling now. She doesn't want to be out in public places just yet.

LEMON: Yes. You know, it's tough to ask these questions but we have to ask them so that we get a sense of what's happening. There was a woman, very close right next to you, right, who was a victim of the shooter. She did not make it?

MARIE ISOM: No, we believe she was one of the -- one of the victims. We're not 100 percent certain but we're --

LEMON: Yes. Instead of going back and talking about those frightening moments that we've heard so much about, let's talk about moving on from this -- from this. It's tough to deal with but as you see right behind you the memorial service, you see the makeshift memorial, you se the memorial service that's happening over at the municipal center, and everyone -- you couldn't hear my colleague, but she says, people you know what, we want to move on. We don't want to let this young man, this alleged shooter take away our happiness.

MARIE ISOM: I whole-heartedly agree with that. I think there was one act of evil but that one act has been covered by millions of acts of kindness.

LEMON: Yes. And how are young people, the young people are dealing with this? Because I understand your mom took you guys to the movies because you wanted to go, absolutely normal. And most -- probably most of the people in that theater were young people. How are you guys dealing with this?

MICHELLE ISOM: Well, it's really hard. I did have a lot of friends that were there. Everyone I know made out safely. But they're all -- we're all really shaken up. It's really hard to know our life was on the line like that.

LEMON: Mm-hmm. And, Mom, you know, with your kids -- you don't want your kids to grow up -- no one -- I never wanted you guys to grow up, I wanted to keep you with me forever. Do you think that this in some way took away the innocence that you protected them for so long? That you protected for so long?

MARIE ISOM: I think it can if we let it. But we, as a family, we have a very strong faith and I just really believe that my daughters will come out of this stronger. They will come out understanding that evil is in the world but love and kindness will always conquer.

LEMON: It's a very different time -- I think you're around my age. It's a very different time than when we grew up.

MARIE ISOM: Absolutely. You know, we could run around and never have to let our parents know where we were. We could ride our bike all day long without worrying. And now I don't let my -- you know, I tend to let -- make my girls go anywhere, you know, they go together, in groups. They are more limited than we were.

LEMON: Yes. You know, we -- as you get older, you know, you don't think that you're invincible. Young people think that they are invincible. You realized, and especially this, I would imagine, how fragile life is, how tenuous it is. From one moment to the next, you never know.

MARIE ISOM: I agree. But I think we can't live our lives in that fear. You know we --

LEMON: Yes.

MARIE ISOM: We just live as though today is it. We do -- we need to face death and we personally have a hope. We're not afraid to die. But it's still -- the thought of the hurting, grieving people who have lost loved ones. I mean, I think that's the most difficult part for us, knowing that we were there. We survived, but there's so many others who didn't and how do we help them? How do we bring them comfort, administer to them?

LEMON: Listen, I think it's very powerful to -- and you know people have questioned the timing, they're talking about what we need to do as far as mental health or maybe as far as guns and rules and laws and all of that.

What would you like, if anything, that our leaders to know about this situation as a parent who is struggling with this? What would you like them to hear?

MARIE ISOM: You know, I don't think really there's much that could have been done differently. We cannot live our lives as though we're in prison and let evil be free on that. Also we need to -- yes, there's danger out there. Yes, there's evil out there. But we can't let it rule our lives. I don't think gun laws are the answer. I mean, I don't like guns but I had a gentleman e-mail me and say, you know, in Rwanda there was extremely strict gun laws when there was an 800,000 massacred. I don't think the answer is -- if somebody wants to kill, they're going to find a way.

LEMON: What can the nation learn from this? I know it's a big question to ask a 16-year-old, right, Michelle? But can -- what do you think the world can learn from this, and especially young people if you want to answer that?

MICHELLE ISOM: Well, I guess they can learn that there's going to be hard times. Like, it's unbelievable going through this but there's also some beauty, like, in the world coming together, just like all these people, like, being there for me.

LEMON: Yes. MICHELLE ISOM: My family, like there's so much.

LEMON: Yes. What are you doing to help your little sister?.

MICHELLE ISOM: Just being there for her, I guess. Talking if she needs to talk.

LEMON: Yes.

MICHELLE ISOM: There's not a whole lot to say at this point.

LEMON: Yes. Well, we want to thank you guys and we are -- we're thinking about you and we're here covering it and we're trying to give the positive side of it and not just talk about the shooter. I imagine it pains you to hear so much talk about him and to even hear his name or see his picture.

MARIE ISOM: You know, we've avoided a lot of the news. We have, you know, kept up just enough to know what's going on. But, you know, we don't have the anger and hatred. We don't understand but I think we can't let hatred and anger for this man take over.

LEMON: Thank you. Thank you very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. As well as the nation and the entire world. Thank you very much, the Isoms, Michelle and Marie. And we're also thinking about Elizabeth who is back home, I would imagine, who didn't want to come.

Appreciate it. Take cares, guys.

I let these guys speak for a long period of time as we're awaiting the president because we have heard so much about this suspected shooter. And we've heard his name. I try not to say his name as much as possible because I want people to remember the victims more so than the suspect but we have to mention it from time to time because he is part of the investigation. He is the suspected actor or shooter in this particular situation.

But the message from that family, such a positive message, we need to hear more of that in the national media. But again, unfortunately, we have to talk about the suspected shooter in this incident. And as I said, our hearts go out to Marie, to Michelle, to Elizabeth, as well as all of the people who are suffering from this particular event, and we are praying for them, and we know that they're going to rise up from this.

Moments from now, the president will speak and we're going to carry it live here on CNN. He has been meeting at the hospital with family members, with victims talking to them. He also met with Jessica Ghawi's brother, Jordan Ghawi. Jessica was that aspiring young journalist who was killed by the suspected gunman in the theater, 26 years old. I spoke to Jordan. Jordan has been tweeting about it and he met with the president today and we'll try to get you some of his tweets and tell you what he had to say about it.

Also, we're going to take you live to the memorial service that's happening not far from where I am now and we're going to tell you about a wife who shares an emotional story of her husband sacrificing his life for others in this tragedy. Don't go away. We're back in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty-two-year-old Rebecca Wingo was originally from Quinlan, Texas, but lived in Aurora. She was one of 12 people killed in the movie massacre. Her father Steve Hernandez, announced his daughter's death on his Facebook page saying he heard she died instantly and without pain. But for him and those that loved Wingo, the pain of her loss is unbearable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And as we learn more details about the horrors that went on in that Colorado movie theater, the one right behind me, we are also hearing about moments of great bravery, like Jonathan Blunk, the 26- year-old veteran who died trying to save someone else's life. Earlier his Chantel Blunk joined me from Reno, Nevada. And most of us can't even imagine what that family is going through. I asked her how she was holding up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHANTEL BLUNK, WIDOW OF AURORA SHOOTING VICTIM: I'm trying to hold up. I'm trying to be OK.

LEMON: Yes. And we understand that. Listen, we didn't get a chance to meet your husband, Jonathan. How would you like the world to remember him?

BLUNK: Johnny was the type that always wanted to be the hero, that helped anybody in any way he can, always wanted to make people smile and laugh. He was always very optimistic and outgoing, spontaneous, always trying to do anything crazy and dangerous. So when we heard that it was him trying to save somebody, everybody just knew that that was Johnny. That was the type of person he was.

LEMON: You have -- you have two children. You have a 4-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son. And as I said, it must take incredible strength to deal with that and grieving while dealing with young children as well. How are your kids doing?

BLUNK: Our daughter Haylee, who is the 4-year-old, the oldest, she keeps asking when daddy's coming because he was supposed to fly back from Reno yesterday and she had her dress all picked out, ready to go for what she wanted to wear and made her welcome home sign for him, and when I heard Friday, and I still didn't tell her Friday night when I found out. I had to tell her Saturday morning that we weren't going to the airport to pick him up and tried to explain why we weren't getting him, that daddy was gone and still loved us and somebody took him from us.

She said -- she cried and then she asked, well, is daddy still going to come for my birthday, because he promised, and then I had to explain it again and it's been like that since. And my 2-year-old son, he's only 2, so he doesn't get it. He doesn't understand. But my daughter's very confused.

LEMON: Do you feel like -- people have been saying, Chantel, that Jonathan died trying to save someone else's life, because he was in the military and he apparently covered up someone. He died a hero.

BLUNK: I know. And that's -- that was Johnny. Johnny was the type of person that always wanted to be the hero and he always said, you know, if he was ever going to die, he wanted it to be in battle and he wanted to be known as a hero to his kids and to me and friends and family. He just wanted everyone to look at him as that guy. So it's not a surprise at all.

LEMON: Boy, Chantel, you're working on a hero's memorial for Jonathan. Can you tell me and the viewers about that?

BLUNK: He has lots of friends in the military that are trying to help me because he was on active duty. We are trying to bring his body back. But he has a very good friend that was his boss in the military, Amy De Guzman, and his other friends, Jeff Keenan and Kyle Dawson and James Gill, they are all trying to help bring him home and Amy de Guzman was able -- because she is still with the unit, and talked to them about getting the gunsmen line and they're going to have -- he's going to have his military funeral. He's going to have his military burial.

LEMON: Chantel, I can't even imagine the strength that it takes to come on and do this when you have -- when this has happened to you and your family. We thank you so much and we're praying for you. OK?

BLUNK: Thank you.

LEMON: Really just horrific stories that are coming out of this tragedy and one of those was Jessica Ghawi, she was 24 years old, an aspiring sports journalist. She was in that theater as well. I spoke with her brother Jordan just two nights ago here in Aurora, Colorado. And he talked about his sister's legacy.

He is one of the people meeting with the president right now and here is what Jordan has been tweeting from his meeting with the president. And he says, "Have had the amazing honor to meet all 11 families and witness their collective strength, remembering and honoring the lives lost."

And then another one says, "I spoke with the White House press secretary and now have his word that we will not utter the name of the suspect who committed this act. #focus on victims."

And another tweet says, "Sat down with President Obama. He has been incredible. He, too, has agreed not to mention the shooter's name."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gordon Cowden took his two teenage children to the theater for a midnight showing of new Batman movie. His children escaped unharmed but the 51-year-old Cowden was killed. Described as a true Texas gentleman, Cowden's loved ones say he loved life but above all he loved his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And we are going to be memorializing and remember the victims of this terrible tragedy. We want to get you live pictures now to that memorial site where they're going to be holding that service. The service, the prelude and all of that started just a short time ago at the top of the hour. It was by the Aurora Symphony Brass Quartet. And then there were other selections that were held by choirs and so forth.

And you see that people are laying flowers and candles there in remembrance of the victims of this tragedy. And then it starts in earnest again in just a couple of minutes at the bottom of the hour. We should tell you that the mayor is going to be there. The governor of the state will speak as well.

The mayor will introduce some elected officials and dignitaries and then the victims and the family members will also speak, we're hearing, and as well as some early responders and then there will be prayers of comfort a little bit later on, and then a representative will pray for the city of Aurora and pray for the entire country as well.

As this is going on, as this is the backdrop, the president of the United States is expected to speak at any moment now on his visit with the family members. He has been meeting at the University of Colorado Memorial Hospital. He's been meeting with those victims and the family members, and we are hearing from people who were at that meeting that the president offered words of comfort.

Also hearing that the president promised one of the young men whose sister died that, hey, he would not mention the name of the shooter. He said the White House press secretary said that as well.

It is a very moving scene that you can see there and hundreds of people have gathered at this memorial site. And as many have been gathering at smaller memorials that have been happening throughout the area, and even a makeshift memorial that -- right across the street from the theater.

You're not going to miss any of it because we all are collectively want to support and pray for the people here in Aurora, Colorado. So we will bring you that service live here on CNN.

You know, I mentioned earlier that we wanted to focus on the survivors, focus on the area, focus on the residents, the people of Aurora. But the sad fact is, is that we have to talk about the investigation here because it is part of the story and we want to talk about -- figure out whether there were things that could have been done differently and how to prevent this from possibly happening again.

So we go into the mind and into the activities of this alleged shooter. The owner of a gun range had a strange feeling about the man we now know as the alleged shooter in this -- the alleged Aurora gunman. And this was a month before the theater massacre, as he applied for membership at the shooting range. Something about him made the owner uneasy.

Our Drew Griffin is here with me in Aurora.

So, Drew, you visited the gun range. What gave this gun range owner this weird feeling about the suspect?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Don, we've been talking about this suspect, right, has ghost-like existence here.

LEMON: Right.

GRIFFIN: That there were no warning signs, which is really odd.

LEMON: Right.

GRIFFIN: This was a warning sign but it was so slim you would know why it wasn't acted upon. The gun range is about 30 miles from where we are. It's out east in a very rural area. I want to show you some pictures of it. It's called the Lead Valley Range. And it's owned by Glenn Rotkovich.

On June 25th, the suspect, Mr. Holmes, filled out an online application to join this private gun range. It is the policy, then, of the gun range to call back, see what the person's about, actually try to make a sale, Don. When Mr. Rotkovich called back, he got this weird voicemail. Didn't understand it at first. He called back a second time. Even stranger. A third time now he's calling back the same voice mail to remember what he did here and this is what he told us.

Guttural, freakish, maybe drunk, weird, and bizarre, deep guttural- force voice. Just something weird about James Holmes' voice mail. And Rotkovich said look it, to all his employees, if this guy ever comes back, if he ever comes in here, I want to see him. I want to talk to him. Because he's not going to get on our range unless I have that interaction. He never did came back. He never responded at all.

LEMON: Yes, you know, I'm sure you will attest to this as well. Sadly we have covered a number of these tragedies.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

LEMON: And we say victims. But the people we have spoken to say, hey, we are not victims. We are not victims of this and we want to move on. It's important for them not to feel that they are victims and it's important for them to focus on the future, right?

GRIFFIN: Absolutely. And we talked to a guy who I would call him a victim. He was shot. Right? You know? But he's not a victim --

LEMON: A survivor. Yes.

GRIFFIN: And when you hear how he survived -- his name is Josh Nowlan, we now know from a federal law enforcement source that this guy's gun, his assault gun, his assault rifle with 100 rounds on it, jammed. And it jammed just as it was pointing at Josh Nowlan. And that is how this man survived.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH NOWLAN, SHOOTING VICTIM: It was a straight-line shot. Just taking everybody out from one aisle to the next. That's all he was able to do.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think if that gun had not jammed that you'd be here?

NOWLAN: I know I wouldn't be here if that gun had not -- did not jam. I know for full certain that I probably would not be here.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How are you feeling today?

NOWLAN: Scared. You know, of course, I'm glad it's over with, and, yes, I am glad I am alive and I get to see my -- I get to see my kids. But then I also think about, you know, the other people that didn't -- were not as lucky as I was. I mean, there is kids, mothers and fathers that was there and they're dead. I am still alive.

I want to go back to that theater, I want to go back into that auditorium, and I'm going to look straight down that same seat and I want to say, I beat you. You did not take this life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: I talked to another guy who was in that theater Thursday night, ran out with his wife, helped other people out. He told me the same thing this morning. In fact, this morning at 9:00 a.m., (INAUDIBLE) Caldwell went to a theater and saw "Batman".

LEMON: Really? Yes.

GRIFFIN: With a "Batman" shirt on. He wasn't going to let this guy, who we're not going to name.

LEMON: Right.

GRIFFIN: Ruin his -- the rest of his life.

LEMON: His name shall not be spoken as -- as often as we cannot say it. Every once in a while you have to say it when you're talking about the investigation. You know, I spoke to a family, I'm not sure if you heard, a mom and daughter who were both in the theater and one of her daughters couldn't make it. She said, you know, we have to move on, we have -- we've got to be positive about this. And again we can't let this person steal our happiness. And as we look at these memorial -- the makeshift memorial over our shoulder here, the one that people have been gathering, that's what people have been saying, that's what people have been writing. That's why they have been coming to these places, Drew, to support each other. And that's probably what we're going to see tonight at that bigger memorial. Let's take a live look and Drew and I will continue to talk here.

This is the memorial that's at the Aurora Municipal Center. It is getting under way now and you hear the choir speaking now. At 8:30 Eastern Time, this choir should be now -- should be Acappella Selections, Living Hope Baptist Church. Let's listen.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: A very nice selection there from Acappella Selections from the Living Hope Baptist Church choir. They are at the Aurora Municipal Center. This memorial service happening now. But we are being told now that the president, less than five minutes away from speaking. He's going to speak at the University of Colorado Hospital. We'll bring it to you live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A native of Phoenix, Alex Teves was a recent graduate of the University of Denver. He was a big Arizona basketball fan and had a master's degree in Psychology. He wanted to be a counselor. His aunt says he was a wonderful nephew and great example for his two younger teenage brothers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I want to tell you, we're back now live in Aurora, Colorado. And we are waiting for the president. We are being told less than two minutes away from speaking at the University of Colorado Hospital.

These are live pictures that you're looking at, courtesy of our affiliate, of course, KUSA. You see it up there at the top of your screen. And it's over at the Aurora Municipal Center. Hundreds of people have gathered to really pay tribute, to memorialize the victims and to support the families and the loved ones of the people who lost their lives, and the people who were injured here.

And this is the Acappella Selections, I should say, by the Living Hope Baptist Church. And you can see there are members of the military there as well. Lots of American flags, balloons. It's really a beautiful event. It actually turned out to be quite a nice evening here in Aurora. We had some thunderstorms that rolled through at the top of our 6:00 broadcast. Actually knocked us off the air for a little bit here but it definitely -- it was a blessing and it may be a blessing from heaven, because the temperature was so hot here that it was kind of tough for some people to even breathe.

It has been so warm and of course it's a high elevation. So it makes it a little bit tough any way. But a rain came through, cooled the temperatures down. So now the people who are at this service, they won't have to suffer in the heat because of that rainstorm.

So you're looking at those pictures there. If we have a shot -- I'm not sure if we have a shot of the hospital. We may not be able to take you before the president speaks. But the University of Colorado Hospital is not far from here. This is all very close proximity, very close proximity.

The movie theater where I am standing, there's a shot of where the president is going to speak at the hospital and we're told again very shortly, very shortly, President Barack Obama will come out and talk about his experience with meeting with the victims and with the family members and he has promised -- he has promised at least one young man whose sister died in that theater, that he would not mention that alleged shooter's name.

So I want to -- I want to listen to this and then we'll get back and you'll hear from the president just as soon as he comes out.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: That is the Living Hope Baptist Church. They are giving Acappella Selections there.

You see all the people who were -- who are in the crowd there. And as a matter of fact, we're going to go to the crowd now as we await the president.

Kyung Lah has been there all afternoon. Kyung has been covering the story, as a matter of fact from the very beginning.

Kyung, we look up at the clouds in the sky, and as I was telling our viewers just moments ago, it was that rain that came through was a blessing because now it will be as much as it can be a more enjoyable experience for this people. They won't have to suffer through the heat. They've already suffered through so much -- Kyung.

LAH: Well, when you look out at the crowd, Don, you can certainly get a sense of what the city of Aurora is like because it looks like the entire city is here. I mean, it's hard to miss the exact angle to tell but this crowd goes very, very --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States is speaking now in Colorado. Let's listen in.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to begin by just thanking all the state, local, and federal officials who have responded magnificently to this tragedy. Governor Hickenlooper who has already been dealing with a range of natural disasters here in the state has been an extraordinary example of strength. The mayor, who has only been on the job seven months and obviously has responded with great strength and leadership, the police chief who, you know, we had an opportunity to speak over the phone. Chief Oates has been dealing with as difficult a set of circumstances as any law enforcement officer deals with and he and his officers have done everything right by the book with great courage and great determination. And so we are very proud of them and I think I speak for the entire congressional delegation who is here as well.

You know, scripture says that he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

And when you have an opportunity to visit with families who have lost their loved ones, as I describe to them, I come to them not so much as president as I do as a father and as a husband. And I think that the reasons stories like this have such an impact on us is because we can all understand what it would be to have somebody that we love taken from us in this fashion, what it would be like, and how it would impact us.

I had a chance to visit with each family and most of the conversation was filled with memory. It was an opportunity for families to describe how wonderful their brother or their son or daughter was and the lives that they had touched and the dreams that they held for the future.

I confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these kinds of situations but that my main task was to serve as a representative of the entire country and let them know that we are thinking about them at this moment and will continue to think about them each and every day and that the -- that the awareness that not only all of America but much of the world is thinking about them might serve as some comfort.

I also tried to assure them that, although the perpetrator of this evil act has received a lot of attention over the last couple of days, that attention will fade away and in the end, after he has felt the full force of our justice system, what will be remembered are the good people who were impacted by this tragedy.

And I also had a chance to give folks some hugs and to shed some tears but also to share some laughs as they remembered the wonderful lives that these men and women represented.

I also had a chance, fortunately, to visit some folks who were going to be OK, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the staff at this hospital, and I just want to thank everybody who's worked tirelessly here to deal with this tragedy.

Some of the stories are remarkable. You know, you see young people who have come in and just two days ago or 36 hours ago or even 24 hours ago, it wasn't certain whether they'd make it and now suddenly their eyes are open, they are alert, and they are talking, and it reminds you that even in the darkest of days, you know, life continues. And people are strong and people bounce back, and people are resilient, and particularly given the fact that so many of the victims were young, it is a great blessing to see how rapidly they are able to recover from some pretty devastating injuries. There is one particular story I want to tell because this was the last visit that I had and I think it's representative of everything that I saw and heard today. I had a chance just now, about five minutes ago, to visit with Ali Young (ph). Ali is 19 years old. And I also had a chance to visit with Ali's best friend, Stephanie Davies, who is 21. Stephanie was actually downstairs with Ali as well as Ali's parents when I walked into the room.

And I don't think this story's been heard, at least I hadn't read it yet. But I wanted to share it with you. When the gunman initially came in and threw the canisters, he threw them only a few feet away from Ali and Stephanie who were sitting there watching the film. Ali stood up seeing that she might need to do something or at least warn the other people who were there, and she was immediately shot.

And she was shot in the neck and it punctured a vein and immediately she started squirting blood, and apparently as she dropped down on the floor, Stephanie, 21 years old, had the presence of mind to drop down on the ground with her, pull her out of the aisle, place her fingers over where she -- where Ali had been wounded and applied pressure the entire time while the gunman was still shooting.

Ali told Stephanie she needed to run. Stephanie refused to go. Instead, actually, with her other hand, called 911 on her cell phone. Once the SWAT team came in, they were still trying to clear the theater, Stephanie then, with the help of several others, carries Ali across two parking lots to where the ambulance is waiting and because of Stephanie's timely actions, I just had a conversation with Ali downstairs and she is going to be fine.

I don't know how many people at any age would have the presence of mind that Stephanie did or the courage that Ali showed. And so as tragic as the circumstances of what we've seen today are, as heartbreaking as it is for the families, it's worth us spending most of our time reflecting on young Americans like Ali and Stephanie. Because they represent what's best in us and they assure us that out of this darkness a brighter day is going to come.

To the entire community of Aurora, the country is thinking of you. I know that there's going to be a vigil and an opportunity for everybody to come together and I hope that all those who are in attendance understand that the entire country will be there in prayer and reflection today.

So thank you. God bless you. God bless all who helped to respond to this tragedy and I hope that over the next several days, next several weeks and next several months, we all reflect on how we can do something about some of the senseless violence that ends up marring this country, but also reflect on all the wonderful people who make this the greatest country on earth.

Thank you very much, everybody.

LEMON: And it is the greatest country on earth. And the senseless violence, as the president put it, we should be focusing now, he said, over the next several days and months on how we fix that senseless violence and so that it doesn't end up happening again. The president giving a very poignant story about Ali Young, 19, who was shot, and her best friend, Stephanie Davis, 21 years old, helping her out, diving on the floor with her and putting her finger, as the president said, over one of her arteries to keep her from dying, her friend saved her life.

And as we watch this memorial service, which we're going to go to live in just a moment, the president started with this. And those of you who know the Lord, it is from the bible. It's Revelation 21, verse 4. "And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore. The first things are passed away."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: I want to get you live now to the memorial service that's happening here in Aurora. Speaking right now is the Bishop Conley, giving the invocation prayer. Mayor Steve Hogan will speak in just moments. Let's listen in.

JOHN GAY, CHAIRMAN, KEY COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM: Aurora is and will always remain an all-American city.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

GAY: Your presence here tonight is most appreciated and welcomed because it helps to start the healing process for all our American city of Aurora and for our great state of Colorado. Let the healing process begin.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

GAY: Our prayers are extended to all those that have been directly or indirectly affected by this unforgivable tragedy. May God bless them, embrace them, and may we be with us all during this time of adversity, reflection, and healing. May his grace bless us. May peace and tranquility prevail among us all as we go forth from this evening.

Thank you all.

(APPLAUSE)

GAY: Now, it's my distinct pleasure to introduce the Auxiliary Bishop James Conley for the invocation. Bishop?

AUXILIARY BISHOP JAMES CONLEY, ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER: Mayor Hogan, members of City Council of Aurora, esteemed clergy, my brothers and sisters.

Tonight we come together to pray and to be with one another. Some of us are survivors, family members, or friends of those who suffered through this senseless and evil act of violence which took place early Friday morning. All of us in this local community were affected by what happened here on Friday and we will never be the same.

This senseless and evil act of violence has left many of us wondering how and why this could happen. These questions arise when the everyday securities and certainties of life, the trust we carry in our fellow human beings, that we can go safely to work each day or go to school or to the movies are shaken. It's natural for us to wonder, why does this kind of suffering happen and what does it really mean?

We who gather this evening have come to seek answers.