Jessica Redfield: Woman Killed In Colorado Mass Shooting Had Blogged About Surviving Toronto Mall Shooting Last Month
Jessica Redfield, who narrowly survived the Eaton Centre Mall shooting in Toronto last month, is among the victims of Friday’s mass shooting at the premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colo.
An aspiring sports blogger, Jessica Redfield was among the 12 victims killed in the shooting at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” as 24-year-old James Holmes threw explosives into the theater then began opening fire.
Redfield had blogged about her experiences in the Toronto mall shooting, where she was in the food court and left just ahead of the beginning of the attack, the London Mirror reported. In the blog entry Jessica Redfield wrote about suddenly feeling panicked for no real reason after making a purchase in the mall, leading her to leave quickly.
A feeling that was overwhelming enough to lead me to head outside in the rain to get fresh air instead of continuing back into the food court to go shopping at SportChek. The gunshots rung out at 6:23. Had I not gone outside, I would’ve been in the midst of gunfire.
Jessica Redfield went on to write about the panic that ensued as police and ambulances closed in and she watched victims rushed out on stretchers. She also described the gratitude of surviving the ordeal, at times eerily foreshadowing the panic of Friday’s mass shooting.
I was shown how fragile life was on Saturday. I saw the terror on bystanders’ faces. I saw the victims of a senseless crime. I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath. For one man, it was in the middle of a busy food court on a Saturday evening.
I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given.
It appears Redfield could have avoided the Colorado shooting just as she had in Toronto. In one of her last tweets before the shooting began Redfield noted that she had to convince a friend to attend the showing with her.
Never thought I’d have to coerce a guy into seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises with me.
— Jessica Redfield (@JessicaRedfield) July 20, 2012
Redfield’s real name was Jessica Ghawi but went by Jessica Redfield on Twitter and as a blogger. She had just moved to Colorado from San Antonio, KSAT.com reported.
