1,000 Attend Service For Shooting Victim A.J. Boik
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - More theater shooting victims were laid to rest on Friday, including Alexander "A.J." Boik, who was just 18 years old.
Boik recently graduated from Gateway High School. He was born and raised in Aurora, and on Friday he was laid to rest in his hometown where 1,000 people filled a church to celebrate his life.
Capture a person's life in photos and a lot can be learned about them. In the photos displayed at the service Boik's smile was infectious. He has a lot of friends, and at 18 years old he had what most people search a lifetime to find.
Boik's girlfriend, family and friends put together the slideshow and together they celebrated his life. His eulogy was given by his uncle, John Hoover.
"That chubby-cheeked little boy grew into a man and he smiled. Smiling is what I will always remember about AJ. That smile that told you he's thinking of something," Hoover said. "He's not a big guy but he had a huge personality and everyone knew from the moment you met him. This guy is living his life."
Aurora's mayor and police chief were in attendance as well as Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Boik was voted by Gateway High School classmates as "most likely to become the next Pablo Picasso."
This fall Boik was planning to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. His dream was to become an art teacher.
Boik's life in pictures only begins to tell his story -- a life filled with smiles.
A particularly touching moment in the service, when Boik's uncle said, "We are all better people for knowing AJ."
