Jessica is one of 12 people killed in the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20th. The 24-year-old, called "Jessi" by her friends, was an aspiring sportscaster with an infectious personality and a beautiful smile. They say she was the ultimate sports fan, especially when it came to hockey. One of her favorite pictures was one of herself kissing the Stanley Cup. She interned at television and radio stations in San Antonio before moving to Colorado.
She was also member of Community Bible Church, and Community Bible Pastor Robert Emmitt said he baptized Jessica two years ago.
Jessica was attending the midnight showing of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in a theater in Aurora on Friday, July 20th, when a man armed with several guns walked into the theater and opened fire. An avid social media user, Jessica loved to keep in touch via Twitter. Her last Tweet, which said she was awaiting the start of the Dark Knight Rises, was posted less than an hour before she was killed.
Jessica's brother, Jordan Ghawi, immediately flew to Colorado and
posted updates on his blog site and on Twitter. His posts provided a window through which others could see his and his family's frustration while they waited for more information on Jessica's condition and the heartbreak felt when they received confirmation of her death.
In a strange twist of fate, Jessica was in a Toronto mall last month when a gunman opened fire, killing a man. She had walked out right before the shooting because of a 'feeling' she had.
She later blogged about that shooting, writing:
"I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift...I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given."
Jessica's best friend, Brent Lowak, was with her at the movie theater and was also shot. Brent, who still lives in the San Antonio area, has been recovering in a Colorado hospital. His family and friends say he hopes to return to San Antonio in time to attend Jessica's memorial service.