CADILLAC -- The pain of the Colorado movie theater tragedy can be felt all across the country including Northern Michigan. One of the victims has family living in Cadillac.
Violet Strohm, the victim's Great Aunt says, "It was unbelievable, I mean how does that happen?"
18-year old AJ Boik is just one of 12 people who were shot and killed after a gunman barged into a Dark Knight Rises movie premiere. 71 people were shot Friday morning.
Boik was there with his girlfriend.
Kevin and Kathy Lytle, the victim's 2nd cousins say, "When the shooting started they got up right away to get out of the theater. AJ fell behind her and so she laid down on top of his body and waited. The shooting stopped for a little while and she tried to pull him out and couldn't. There was chaos and stampedes so she lost track of him."
At first AJ was reported missing and family didn't know if he was at the hospital, still inside the theater, or being questioned by police.
Kathy Lytle says "We knew the longer we didn't hear anything, the more likely that the news was not going to be good."
Days before what the family describes as a nightmare, AJ dreamed of becoming an art teacher. He planned to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Kevin and Kathy Lytle says, "He was a fun little kid smiling all the time, happy. Because of the miles we didn't see him grow up other than Facebook."
Instead his family is planning a funeral.
Violet Strohm says, "I wanted to go and be with my sister, but I just had surgery so I can't go and be with her."
Friends and family members have set up a memorial page on Facebook to honor those who lost their lives in this senseless tragedy.
