John Thomas Larimer, a 27-year-old male, was a U.S. Navy cryptologic technician stationed at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado. Originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois, he was the youngest of five siblings and was known for his sense of humor and intelligence. A fourth-generation sailor, he had enlisted in the Navy in 2011, following a family tradition of military service.
He held a dual degree in political science and history from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
On the night of July 20, 2012, Larimer went to a midnight screening of 'The Dark Knight Rises' at the Century 16 theater in Aurora. He was seated in the middle of the theater with his girlfriend, Kelley Vojtsek. During the screening, a heavily armed gunman, later identified as James Eagan Holmes, entered the theater, set off tear gas grenades, and began shooting into the audience. In a final act of heroism, Larimer shielded Vojtsek with his own body, saving her from the barrage of bullets. He was struck by the gunfire and died at the scene.
The perpetrator, James Eagan Holmes, a 24-year-old former doctoral student, was arrested in his car outside the theater just minutes after the shooting. He was dressed in tactical clothing and had multiple firearms in his possession. Authorities later discovered that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosives, which were subsequently defused. Holmes confessed to the shooting and was charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Following a lengthy trial, on July 16, 2015, a jury found Holmes guilty on all counts. The jury, however, could not unanimously agree to impose the death penalty. Consequently, on August 26, 2015, James Holmes was sentenced to 12 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, in addition to 3,318 years for the attempted murders and explosives charges.
