Matt McQuinn
The following information has been copied from its original location. Each section is linked to the original website where I received the information.
Matt McQuinn, 27, died protecting girlfriend in Aurora theater shooting
Matt McQuinn died protecting his girlfriend.
As a gunman calmly walked up the aisle of an Aurora movie theater Friday firing at moviegoers, the 27-year-old Ohio native dived on top of Samantha Yowler. Her brother Nick, 32, also tried to shield her, said Robert L. Scott, attorney for the McQuinn and Yowler families.
Samantha Yowler, 27, was shot in the knee. Her brother escaped without injury. But McQuinn, from St. Paris, Ohio, was not as fortunate.
McQuinn’s mother, Jeri Jackson, flew to Colorado on Friday as family members in Springfield tried to get information about what happened to McQuinn, according to theDayton Daily News.
McQuinn’s stepmother, Stacie McQuinn, said the hospital would not tell Yowler, who underwent surgery Friday, about her boyfriend’s condition because the two were not related.
Matt McQuinn graduated from Vandalia-Butler High School in 2004. He met Yowler while the two were working at a Target store in Springfield, the Dayton Daily News reported. In November, the couple transferred to a Target store in Denver, joining Yowler’s brother, who had lived in Colorado for the past few years.
Co-workers spoke warmly of McQuinn on Friday when the news began circulating among the staff. Diane Behling worked with both McQuinn and “Sammy” and said they were all a close-knit team. She said McQuinn was “just a really good person” and that she loved having his “company and laughter” at work.
McQuinn’s funeral is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28 at Maiden Lane Church in Springfield, Ohio. His burial will be at Lawrenceville Cemetery in Clark County.
Body of theater shooting victim Matt McQuinn returns home
Posted: 07/24/2012
By: Kendall Herold, kherold@wcpo.com
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The body of an Ohio man killed in the
Colorado theater shooting has returned home.
The body of Matt McQuinn is back in his hometown of Springfield,
Ohio, according to a family attorney. McQuinn was one of 12 people shot and killed while watching the latest Batman
movie in Aurora, Colo.
McQuinn was watching the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” with his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, and her
older brother, Nick Yowler, when the Friday shooting rampage occurred. An attorney retained by their families has said
the men covered Yowler with their bodies as bullets flew.
The 27-year-old victim is being deemed a hero in media reports across the country.
Samantha and Nick have returned to their hometown of Springfield as well. Samantha was shot in the knee and
underwent surgery for her injuries while Nick was not injured in the shooting.
McQuinn will be buried this weekend in Springfield .
The McQuinn and Yowler families released the following statement through their attorney on Saturday.
The McQuinn and Yowler families would again like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and concern. Samantha
Yowler was hit by a bullet in her knee from the shooting in Colorado. She is recovering from surgery and is expected to
make a full recovery. Nick Yowler was unharmed during the incident. Unfortunately, Matt McQuinn perished from the
injuries he sustained during the tragic events that unfolded in Denver, Colorado and went home to be with his maker. As
both families mourn the loss of Matt, they ask for everyone to give them distance and time. Again, the families thank
everyone for their love, prayers and ask that we respect their families’ wishes.
The suspected shooter, 24-year-old James Holmes, is being held on suspicion of murder. He won’t be formally charged
until next week.
There are some great guestbook posts on the following website:
MATT MCQUINN OBITUARY
Matt McQuinn died trying to protect his girlfriend
- Scripps Howard News Service
- Posted July 22, 2012 at 2:03 p.m.
AURORA, Colo. — A U.S. Navy veteran who served three tours of duty in the Middle East. A 6-year-old girl excited about her swimming classes. A Target employee who shielded his girlfriend and her brother with his own body.
They and nine others were killed in the shooting rampage during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in a Denver suburb. Here are their stories.
Matt McQuinn died trying to protect his girlfriend.
As a gunman fired on moviegoers at an Aurora movie theater Friday, McQuinn dove on top of Samantha Yowler.
The 27-year-old Ohio native had moved to Colorado in November.
McQuinn’s stepfather, David Jackson, told the Dayton Daily News that McQuinn was a hero.
“Him and Sam were very much in love and planning their life together… it’s not surprising to me that his first thought would be her. That’s what a man does. He protects his loved ones. I’m very proud of him. I’m going to miss him,” Jackson said.
“He was probably scared, terrified,” said Jackson. “I just can’t imagine what would be going through his mind except saving Sam. I’m sure from his actions that he didn’t put anything except for her first. Other than that, how could you not be terrified in a situation like that? I just hope it was quick.”
Yowler was injured in the leg and is recovering in the hospital, a family spokesman said.
Her brother, Nick, was in the theater as well, but was not injured.
Rob Scott, attorney for the McQuinn and Yowler families, said McQuinn was shot three times — in the chest, leg and back.
McQuinn’s mother, Jerri Jackson, has flown to Colorado and is working to have McQuinn’s body flown to Springfield, Ohio, for services at a church he attended.
“Matt was a fun-loving guy,” said Mitch Sprinkle, a 24-year-old Springfield resident and friend of McQuinn. “Everyone that I’ve introduced him to loved him off the bat. He had a really great heart and personality. He’s one of those people that instilled you with positivity.”
Long-time friend Nicholas Gill said McQuinn and his girlfriend were known for their elaborate Halloween costumes for a friend’s annual party.
“Matt was a fun-loving guy,” Mitch Sprinkle, a 24-year-old Springfield resident and friend of McQuinn told the Daily News. “Everyone that I’ve introduced him to loved him off the bat. He had a really great heart and personality. He’s one of those people that instilled you with positivity.”
McQuinn and Yowler moved to Colorado from Ohio last fall. A Colorado co-worker told the Springfield News-Sun that McQuinn and Samantha Yowler worked with her at Target.
“They’re really fun people. We always go out together,” said Melissa Downen
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