President Obama was only supposed to be in Colorado for about two hours or so, but he was so caught up talking with relatives, survivors, and first responders in Aurora that his visit lasted about four hours.
The last room the President visited was 19 year old Allie Young's. Her best friend, Stephanie Davies, when in there too.
He said the story of how 21 year old Stephanie saved her best friend, crystalized the resilience of the community and its will to survive.
Allie was shot in the neck, and through a vein after standing up when the gunman threw the first canister of tear gas into the crowd of moviegoers.
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Stephanie called 911 with one hand, while keeping pressure on Allie's wound with her other, refusing to leave her side.
"Stephanie then, with the help of several others, carried Allie across two parking lots to where the ambulances were waiting," Mr. Obama says. " And because of her actions, I just talked to Allie. She's going to be fine,".
The President wants the focus to be on young people like that he says, " because they represent the best in all of us."
Some of the attention, at least for now, will also be on the suspect , James Holmes. His encounter with a gun range owner last month was so disturbing, Glenn Rotokovich refused to let him join the range.
"Usually if I call a person, they call me back right away," Rotokovich says. "He didn't respond, and his voice mail was guttural, freakish at best." He told his staff if Holmes showed up, " don't let him join the range, leave it alone."
And there is regret from a tactical gear supplier who has learned that the multiple shipments to Holmes helped him carry out his sinister plot.
"That's actually the first thought I had," Andrew Hoefener says. " I wondered if some of his gear came from one of our stores."
Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates says the best news is that critical evidence was recovered from the apartment Holmes had rigged to kill first responders.
"Every ounce will help hold this person accountable," Oates says.
Holmes will make his first appearance in court Monday..
