Man with Roc ties killed in CO Shooting

BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - Alex Sullivan and his parents have lived in Colorado for about 30 years, but they have lots of family back in Rochester and tonight, those relatives are in mourning.

Relatives identify 27-year-old Sullivan as one of the twelve people killed in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shootings.

Sullivan's parents are natives of Rochester, New York and he still has aunts, uncles and cousins in the area.

His aunt and uncle spoke with WROC in Rochester, and said that though Sullivan worked at the movie theater where the shootings occurred, on Friday, he was there for fun.

"He wasn't working last night," said Sullivan's Aunt, Nancy Schwab.  "He was there with friends to celebrate his birthday."

Sullivan's father, Tom, spent much of his son's 27th birthday frantically searching for him, only to learn Alex was gone.

"He's a young husband, working hard to get ahead, and that brings the senselessness all the more in the forefront," said the victim's uncle Bob Schwab.

Sullivan and his wife, Cassandra, would have marked their first wedding anniversary next week; but instead of celebrating, his family was forced to release a statement Friday telling of their loss.

"The Sullivan family lost a cherished member of their family today," the statement reads. "Alex was smart, funny and, above all, loved dearly by his friends and family."

Speaking about the shooting, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "My heart goes out to people who lost loved ones in Aurora, Colorado. My heart goes out to those who were injured. It is a terrible tragedy."

Closer to home, fears of a copycat shooting are changing the routines at many theaters.

Buffalo Police and officers in suburbs including Amherst and Lancaster, are stepping up their presence at showings of the new Batman movie.

"I don't want to make a connection [between] the movie and the senseless violence that occurred," said Brown. "We just wanted to make sure that any fears that the public might have would be addressed."

Mayor Brown told News 4 that Buffalo Police have not received any threats, but they will keep extra officers at city theaters for some time, just as a precaution.