Jacqueline Keavney Lader and her husband, Don Lader, were in the Aurora, Colorado theater watching the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises when alleged gunman James Holmes opened fire on the crowd. The couple, both active Marines, instantly recognized the threat when the first tear gas canister released, and ducked behind their row of seats.
Their harrowing account of the shooting is documented here, and it paints a vivid picture of the chaos and confusion of those precious minutes that early July morning. But in defiance of the incident, the Laders attended a full screening of the film only one day later, to help put their minds at ease and not let the actions of a "madman" control their lives.