The Antelope Valley Times

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Former AV resident killed in Colorado movie massacre

by •

Jesse Childress

COLORADO – Friday’s mass shooting in a Colorado movie theater claimed the life of a U.S. service member who grew up in the Antelope Valley.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jesse Childress died at the scene from injuries sustained in the incident, Pentagon officials said Saturday.

Childress reportedly grew up in Palmdale, CBS Los Angeles reports.

Childress, who was single and had no children, joined the service in January 2002. He was a cybersystems operator on active duty with the 310th Force Support Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado.

“Jesse was an invaluable part of the 310th family,” Lt. Col. Pat Walsh told CNN. “He literally touched everyone in the wing — over 1,000 people.”

Childress was one of several victims, that range in age from six to 51, who were killed when alleged gunman James Holmes opened fire during a midnight premiere of “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises” early Friday in Aurora, Colorado.

The attack left 12 people dead and 58 injured.

Military officials say they’re planning memorials for Childress and 27-year-old Navy sailor John Larimer, who was also killed in Friday’s attack.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

56 comments for "Former AV resident killed in Colorado movie massacre"

  2. If a criminal, or some nut case, want’s a gun. They can get their hands on one. It’s as simple as that. Putting a ban on guns will do NOTHING because of all the guns already on the street and out there. My family has one for protection. Someone comes breaking in, in the middle of night, I want to be able to protect my family. And I am going to assume they are armed. Not going to be the guy that says “I never thought it could happen to me…..”, because it CAN! Also, what about when the big one really hits here. It’s going to be a scene of total chaos and confusion. People will be doing crazy things for food, water and shelter. You bet your ass I am going to be armed for that event. And it’s going to happen. Maybe not today…tomorrow, or even next year, but it’s going hit!

    What if some citizen had a license to conceal was in that movie theater? Someone could have returned fire, and stop the blood shed before the idiot choose to stop popping off rounds.

  4. No one’s mentioned that this murderer ordered 6,000 rounds of ammo online. You can’t even buy Claritin-D without producing i.d. and signing for it, and there’s a limit for how much a ‘citizen’ can buy. For those who support a gun owners right to have 6,000 rounds of ammo in order to kill his intended target, by all means renew that NRA membership card for life and ignore the laws requiring users to learn how to shoot straight.

    • And what would have happened if the theatre gunman produced I.D. and signed for the ammo? Do you think thst a guy who kills and wounds so many people would not want to show I.D. to buy ammo? What should we do; limit the amount of ammo that you can buy? So just make multiple purchases from various retailers. Then I guess we’d need a national database and background checks for ammo purchases so that nobody can have “too much ammo”. How would you stop a person from reloading 1000s of rounds of ammo? Focus on the psycho…not the guns.

      • Since the amount of ammo this murderer bought could be equivalent to an order from an armed forces division, yes there should be a limit to how much of ammo used for automatic weapons one individual could buy, over the course of one year just like we have regulations for some otc drugs.

        Claritin-D was regulated because the ingredients were being used via meth labs. It has been proven that meth has killed many people, and it is obviously true that many rounds of ammo from an automatic gun can kill large amounts of people.

        I am focussing on the murderer, and future murderers who seek publicity and know that the NRA will back them up.

        • So far, I haven’t heard the NRA back any of these guys up. I don’t know for sure but the killer probably fired 100 rounds or less in this situation. Should we limit ammo purchases to less than 100 rounds per year…no matter what caliber? PS- The guy didn’t use an automatic weapon. You are a perfect example of an uninformed anti-gunner.

          • This man could have caused as much or even more damage with a vehicle. Guns and ammo are not to blame:

            “…ten people had been killed and 63 were injured…”

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Russell_Weller

            George Russell Weller (December 7, 1916 – December 9, 2010) was a retired salesman from Santa Monica, California, who gained notoriety as the motorist in a fatal car accident, fueling a national debate in the United States on safety risks posed by elderly drivers.

          • 2009 DUI deaths = 11,711[1]

            2009 Gun Homicides (including self defense) = 9,146[2]

            We have a stronger case for prohibition, than for gun control.

            [1]http://www.centurycouncil.org/drunk-driving/drunk-driving-fatalities-national-statistics
            [2]http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states

  5. What do you gun control nuts think will happen if guns are banned? Or just handguns???? Whould it stop things like what happened in colorado????

  6. Automatic weapons should be banned in the U.S, really who needs them? All the guns shows on tv (Sons of Guns, American Guns)Shows how easy it is to get a weapon here in the U.S (Millitary grade). Gun laws are to blame for Accidents like this one, and the Trayvon Martin Shooting and also Columbine.

    Until the day in which we as U.S citizens do not need firearms, Tragedy’s like this point less killing of 12 innocent people, Will continue to happen

    • You can’t be serious! An accident?! This was no accident nor was Columbine! Law abiding citizens will always need guns to protect ourselves from the criminals who don’t abide by the laws.

      • I ment incident, We have the right to bear arms, But until the day that we dont need to use guns as defense, INCIDENTS like this, and columbine will happen.
        Thats why im for gun-control here in the U.S.

        • Gorilla- When this utopia of yours becomes reality, how am I supposed to protect myself against somebody breaking into my house at 3:00 AM? Beg the thug to go away? Cooperate with him and file an insurance claim?

          • Im not saying that you cant own a firearm,Seeing how you cant comprehend what im trying to say, let me explain, Gun control is not the banning of guns, It is controlling what the public could buy. James Holmes had a AR-15,Remington 870 pump action shotgun and two 40. Glocks. He got them through the internet without a background check. Now do you really think someone would buy a arsenal like that for home-defense? I doubt it,Gun Control just means that there are certain restrictions on guns that you could buy,which means you cant buy a Assault rifle or a 50.cal sniper rifle.
            As a owner of a Colt M1911a1 pistol,I too want to defend myself if it comes down to that. But also i don’t want an AR-15 in the hands of people like James Holmes. Country’s like the England have Gun control laws, and in 2008 there where only
            42 gun-related deaths in Great Britain.
            next time you want to argue about gun control make sure you do your research first.

            Utopia? no i just want a better world for my kids.

          • I could barely get through your post because I was counting all the errors. He bought the guns at Bass Pro Shops and Gander Mountain…Sporting Goods Stores. So, what do you think would happen if they had done a background check??? He had NO criminal record!! Maybe you should have done a little research yourself.

          • it doesn’t matter where he got the guns, there shouldn’t be guns like that out there. Now if you what to be an asshole ,by all means. But you try explaining why my friends brother is dead!

          • Regardless of how strict the gun control laws are criminals will break them. They’ll obtain weapons from across our border if they can’t steal them here. The only people that will be harmed by stricter gun laws will be the law abiding citizens who will be using pea shooters against illegally obtained semi-auto rifles.
            This was a tragic incident. Just as the highway worker killed by the drunk driver over the weekend but no one is talking prohibition again. We can’t regulate crime out of existence. You can’t punish everyone for the crimes committed by the few.

          • So, don’t lock your house or car because criminals will find a way to break in anyway.

            That makes as much sense as your NRA talking points.

          • So according to you Gorilla we shouldn’t have cars that go faster than 15 mphs, because they could potentially kill many people:

            This man could have caused as much or even more damage with a vehicle. Guns and ammo are not to blame:

            “…ten people had been killed and 63 were injured…”

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Russell_Weller

            George Russell Weller (December 7, 1916 – December 9, 2010) was a retired salesman from Santa Monica, California, who gained notoriety as the motorist in a fatal car accident, fueling a national debate in the United States on safety risks posed by elderly drivers.

            2009 DUI deaths = 11,711[1]

            2009 Gun Homicides (including self defense) = 9,146[2]

            We have a stronger case for prohibition, than for gun control.

            [1]http://www.centurycouncil.org/drunk-driving/drunk-driving-fatalities-national-statistics
            [2]http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states

        • Yeah we could have strict gun control like Norway does, their laws work so well that a madman was able to slaughter 69 people

          • Exactly. It’s the evil guns…not the evil people. Just ban the guns and somehow the evil people won’t be able to possess them. Then we’ll all be living in Gorilla’s utopia!

          • There are ~30,000 gun deaths a year in the United States.

            What we need are more guns, right?

            I have a feeling you’re safer in Norway than in Lancaster on a Saturday night.

          • Yes, Gun laws will stop shootings from happening…. Tell me again how criminals obey laws? Oh… That’s right…. Owning a gun makes me a killer just as much as owning a pencil makes me a writer. Guns may be the weapon of choice, but PEOPLE kill people. If it wasn’t a gun, he’d use something else. For instance, like Ace mentioned, a gentlmen used a meat thermometer to stab someone. This isn’t about gun laws, this is about crazy, demented human being with no regard for human life. We all need to be focused on the victims & their families. We all need to be praying to whatever higher power you believe in to heal their hearts and dry their tears.

  7. All handguns should be prohibited in the US. They should be utilized only by specially trained police officers like in England. Commission of a felony with a handgun should bring an automatic death penalty to be administered within 6 months (not 10 years) after the trial. Citizens would be able to keep rifles and shotguns for hunting and protection.

    • Good idea Mike. Then at least law abiding citizens would be unarmed. Then all we’d have to worry about is the criminals, who would still be armed to the teeth if they want to be. This new law of yours would have saved all those people in the theatre, right? Oh wait, since the murderer’s main weapons consisted of a rifle and shotgun, he wouldn’t have to face the wrath of your anti gun law. BRILLIANT.

      • Wait! I take that back. His Glock would have qualified him for the death penalty. I’m sure he would have thought better of it, and everything would be ok.

    • Mike, how long have you been a member of the Flat Earth Society? You can’t be serious. Felony with a handgun an automatic death penalty? Death within 6 months? I have to agree with Abe here, BRILLIANT.

    • Ok – then when these low lifes that get their guns illegally w/their drugs that are flowing back & forth across the border break in who is going to protect me? Protect & Serve doesn’t exist according to our courts. I won’t rely on anyone but myself to protect my home and family

      • The gun lobby’s opposition to strict gun regulation has resulted in there being more guns than people in this country. With all the loose regulations and huge number of firearms, we’re not really that safe, are we? Now, you need a gun to protect yourself from all the gun owners out there because of lax regulation. Brilliant.

        You can’t them if you are caught in a crossfire on a city street.

        Y’all have these fantasies that you’re protecting against an armed intruder and you gun is right next to you. Don’t you ever leave the house?

  8. They need to install an electric chair inside all police cars for situations like these. Let the cops make the decision regarding guilt or innocence.

  9. RIP Jesse Childress…I lived in Lake Los Angeles for 13 years and if the family needs anything please let me know. My heart is broken and my prayers are with the family and friends. What a horrific tragedy. with LOVE!

  10. Why !??
    I thank GOD that the police found this idiot before he got away. I think he needs a wake up call….
    He is not insane.. He is ??? Well, we know what he is… Please, give him a proper trial….
    The public needs to see less of this ass and more of the values of our Country…
    Let this punk have his day in court… Then let the people have him…
    Blessings and strength to us all..

  11. No one has mentioned that the kid who did this was white. Funny? Had it been a negro the comments would have been aimed at the suspect and not the victim. Really, you are such a fake ass.

    • Is this Dibo again? Probably, always trying to add to racial tensions instead of cool them and seeing each other as brothers. The way you word it is intrinsically hostile. It is the essence of a racist.

      • sorry to say, but it’s not me that made the comment. you are showing me that you are a real Dibo hater,But thats all good!!See what you fell too realize is,I know who I am,and what I stand for!!I might be smaller than you,but i’m bigger than a paragraph,you know, the one that you judged me from,so that forth, let the name DIBO taste like sh!t in your mouth,and cramps to your fingers please!!!Now that we have that out of the way, I can now seen my condolence,sympathy and prayers to the people who has lost their love ones to this none sense of an act, which has taken place in Colorado.

        • I should have saw that “I guess” has better sentence structure in his short paragraph, however his mentality fit yours.

          Such hate in order for you to want people to “taste sh!t.”

          I highly doubt you know who you really are, unless you have finally admitted to your racist ends.

  12. What a senseless act. I feel for the families of all the victims. So sad that a man who served his country would die while enjoying the freedoms he vowed to protect.

  13. RIP Jesse Childress… What a horrible way to die… What kind of MONSTER would do something like this?!?!?

    • Looked like a complete nerd, just goes to show ya can’t always judge by appearance.Nice responses by the kids from his neighborhood