Thousands expected at vigil to honor dead, injured in Colorado
As churches throughout Colorado paused Sunday to remember the victims of the mass shooting in an Aurora movie theater, the city prepared for a large turnout at an evening vigil for the victims outside City Hall.
How large? In the wake of the killings at Columbine High School in nearby Littleton in 1999, more than 70,000 people assembled for a prayer service.
The 6:30 p.m. vigil Sunday will be on the grounds surrounding the Aurora Municipal Center. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, members of the state’s congressional delegation and other civic and religious leaders were expected to speak.
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Earlier in the day, Hickenlooper appeared on CNN’s”State of the Union” saying the killing of a dozen people was the act of a deranged person who wanted to create fear.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” he said that the suspect, James Holmes, would have created terror even without guns, using explosives, poisonous gas or some other method.
President Obama was to travel to Aurora on Sunday to meet with families of the 12 killed and dozens wounded in Friday’s massacre. It was unclear whether Obama would arrive in time for the vigil.
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mike.anton@latimes.com
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