Plans Being Considered For A Permanent Memorial In Aurora
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - It has a month since the mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater and many are wondering what will become of the still-growing community tribute to the victims.
Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan says there is no timeline to dismantle the current memorial, and that plans are being considered for a permanent memorial.
"There are discussions under way to that but there have been no decisions made," Hogan said.
The attack on July 20 at the the Century 16 theater by the man police say is James Holmes left 12 people dead and 58 injured. Holmes has been charged with 24 counts of first degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder.
The tributes outside the theater where the shooting took place, located at at Aable and Alameda, have recently expanded to the Aurora Municipal Center. There, heartfelt letters are on display that have poured in from places as far away as Blacksburg, Va., and Jonesboro, Ark. Last week a man named Butch Harper drove to Aurora from Pahrum, Nev., and dropped off a collection of about 1,500 messages from people in his Nevada community.
Resident Paul Link told CBS4 on Monday a permanent memorial should be built on the current community memorial site.
"People are already relating to it. The spirit is here. You can feel the energy," Link said.
The mayor says all decisions will be made after input is gathered from victims' families. Hogan says that also applies to the future of the theater.
"My understanding, from a police standpoint, is it could be reopened but again we don't want to get ahead of the interests of the families."
The City of Aurora has placed a questionnaire on its website asking residents for input on the theater's fate.
CBS4 found on Monday that residents had mixed opinions, with some saying they wouldn't go into the theater if it was reopened and others saying business at the theater should start up again.
Cinemark, the owner of the theater, is working with Aurora to come up with a solution.
LINK: Aurora Questionnaire
