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‘Get down and stay down:' Heroes remembered on 5th anniversary of theater shooting

Posted at 4:30 AM, Jul 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-20 08:22:58-04

DENVER -- Some people who were in theater 9 at the Aurora theater July 20, 2012 are remembering the heroes on the five-year anniversary.

Jansen Young was dating Jonathan Blunk at the time of the shooting.

"It's been a journey," Jansen Young said as she remembered that night five years ago.

Blunk and Young met while Blunk worked security at the Denver Pavilions. Young said both were movie buffs. They loved seeing new movies at theaters.

"This is where we met. This is our story. We came to this movie theater all the time," Young said. "We came to 16th Street all the time, and he loved Denver," Young said.

No matter where Young is living, she makes sure she's back in the Denver metro every July 20.
Blunk's picture is in a frame that's hung in his old security office.

"It just says, 'Jensen and Jon 2017,'" Young read as she looked at the charm.

Blunk's picture frame gets a charm every year. Young comes back to hang the charm up.

"We really need to start doing smaller charms," Young said.

Young described Blunk as someone who helped others and someone with a big heart. She credits him for saving here that night at the Aurora theater.

"Jon grabbed me and pushed me on my knees, and said 'Jansen get down and stay down,'" Young said. "I would not be here without Jon. He truly was my hero that night."

Young plans to keep coming back every year to remember the person who protected her and to make sure his frame gets another charm.