On the evening of the 159th Friday since my son Alex Sullivan was murdered in the Aurora theater massacre on July 20, 2012, I found myself standing behind Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler outside the Justice Center while he spoke about the verdict of the just-completed trial, and his decision to seek the death penalty.
The defendant was sentenced to life without parole, a sentence we are told Brauchler could have taken two years ago and saved the taxpayers loads of money. It is also stated that it would have spared families of victims untold heartache.
As the father of murder-victim Alex Sullivan, allow me to tell you what I would have missed had this trial not gone just the way it did.
I would not have heard about the last seven-plus hours of my son’s life. I would have never met his friends and co-workers who went with him to celebrate his 27th birthday.
I would not have heard how Alex drove a friend to the theater that afternoon to get her ticket to that night’s show, and when she got a ticket to Theater 9 and Alex and the rest of his pals had tickets to Theater 8, they agreed to switch theaters so they all could be together.
I would have never heard about Alex’s last meal, popcorn and lousy nachos, while he and his friends sat on the floor outside Theater 9, watching videos of the first two Batman movies and playing card games.
I would have never heard about him running into Theater 9, most likely one of the first, and laying claim to the 12th row, all 20 seats for his friends to have and enjoy with him “The Dark Knight Rises.”
I would have never heard where each of his friends sat that night. I would not have known that Edgar was on his left and Chelsa was on his right.
I would have never known that Alex was the one who stood up and cheered during the previews of the new Superman movie, a movie that on all accounts would have come out the following year on or around his birthday. Alex had something else to look forward to.
I would have never heard how many laughed and smiled by Alex’s moment of enthusiasm. A daughter told us she shared that laugh and smile with her father just minutes before he was murdered that night.
I would have never heard how Alex counted down the moments on the edge of this seat waiting for the movie to start. I never would have heard what his final words were as he tried to duck for cover.
The pain that I felt when I got the news that Alex had been murdered can never be explained by me nor can it be made any worse by hearing about that night from others. It’s as bad as you think it is.
If a plea had been taken and no trial was ever to be heard in public, I would have been left to read about the events in some report or fact-finding study. That would have left a hollow piece to my already broken heart.
Thank you, George Brauchler, from one father to another for giving me that one last chance to explain to the world how much my son, Alex, meant to me, how I will miss him every day, and how there will never be another like him.
Cost of this trial be dammed. What I got to hear, what I got to say, was priceless. War Eagle.
Tom Sullivan is the father of Alex Sullivan, one of 12 people killed during the Aurora theater shooting.
God bless you, Mr. Sullivan, your family and all the families whose lives were so shattered by this senseless evil. The courage you all display leaves me without adequate words, but I can tell you that this trial was necessary not only for you and the other families, but for the rest of us out here watching because we came to know your losses, your families and how admirable each and every one of you have been in the face of evil. The trial was necessary. We have plenty of money for everything else and revealing the evil was necessary–more importantly, though, letting the lights of those lost shine was necessary and right. Thank you all, and thank you, too, Mr. Brauchler.
As the mother of one of the homicide victims, I also fully support George Brauchler in his decision to pursue the death penalty. How could he not? If this crime doesn’t justify the death penalty, than what crime does?
I’m with Mr Sullivan and Mrs Larimer. We would have been deprived of knowing John and Alex.
Ms. Larimer, your son sounds amazing. Thank you for all you’ve done to seek justice for him and the other victims.
There is no $ value on innocent lives stolen, they are priceless. It is a shame that some have chosen to speak out against the cost of the trial..however it is so easy for them to speak out because they are not the ones who walk in your shoes. The only thing that should be spoken against is how one conniving, calculative, manipulative monster was able to get away with a defence of being mentally ill..one that spared his life. What should be spoken against, is why bother having the DP if one sole juror gets to decide for the other remainder 11? There is nothing “fair” about that. The laws are severely lacking when government puts the offenders rights above those of the victims. I have strong beliefs against the DP, but if any evil act called for such…this was the one. My heart goes out to you Mr. Sullivan and Mrs. Larimer and all other relatives of the victims. Please know that thoughts and prayers are with you, not just in the USA but all across the world. ~Toronto, Canada
Well said Mr Sullivan. I couldn’t agree more. My deepest respect for you sir!
Thank you, Mr. Sullivan for letting us into your life for that short time you were on the stand. We all learned so much about so many wonderful people who tragically lost their lives that night. Alex was a friend to many and I can assure you his legacy will live on. I’ve said it before, we need more Alex Sullivans in this world. I didn’t know him, but the way you and his friends spoke about him, I feel as though he is one of my friends. You raised a wonderful man whose story will live on forever.
I also support George Brauchler. He fought for the people of the state of Colorado and I believe he did the best he could for you and the rest of the families involved.
I also feel that George Brauchler and his wonderful team did the right thing. I do not consider myself pro death penalty, but after watching every day, I would have voted for it in this case. I am so thankful to have had the privilege to learn more about Alex and John, A.J. and Jonathan, Jessica and Jessie, Matt and Micayla, Alexander and Rebecca, Gordon and Veronica. Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us. I pray for all the victims and for all of the families of those murdered and injured (physically and emotionally) at the hands of that guy.
Love to all of you and love to Aurora.
Thank you Mr. Sullivan! Your son sounds amazing and like the kind of person I would have loved to have as a friend. God Bless.
Children are starving, but hey! It’s so worth it!
Not to mention the soldiers who are fighting for our country who are in desperate need of healthcare services.
Mr. Sullivan your son was an amazing, awesome person our world and your family is diminished by Alex’s absence. I’m glad you both got to find out what you did, have your say about your son about how you and your family’s life is, is not and will never be the same without Alex. I want very much to say and agree “costs be damned” but I can’t get there. There is/are finite resources and I worry more than a little the trial forced/made other crime victims and witnesses access to and means to recover limited or unavailable. I dont know if or to any degree that happened. I can see all too easily how it would happen. Finite resources have that effect. If any crime victim or witness had to pay that price, the price was too high. Colette Duranleau, Denver, CO.
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I lost a sibling in the Vietnam War, a war he wanted nothing to do with but could not avoid due to the lottery, which did away with college deferments. He was a kind, educated, loving, compassionate much older brother, a husband, a father of an 18-month old, a commissioned officer in Army Intelligence, who was ten years older than me and I never had the chance to know him as well as I would have liked. He was sent to boarding school when I was about eight, and then off to college and more college just to stay out of the Vietnam War. The point is, he was shot and killed and no one knows about him. My heart goes out to the parents of the victims of the Aurora Theater shooting, but you would have thought they were the only parents who lost a child needlessly. We lost 50,000 soldiers in Vietnam. And the Vietnamese lost 300,000. So don’t cry me a river.
Alex and I had the same bus stop when I was in sixth grade, and he was always very nice. I hadn’t seen him in many years but I knew he had an infectious laugh. I’m so sorry to his family for the tragic loss – I can’t imagine their pain. I hope they can find comfort in knowing that his life touched many others in a positive way.