Navy veteran who challenged Colorado gunman is buried

A US NAVY veteran, who died ­after throwing himself in front of a friend during the Colorado cinema shooting, was remembered at his funeral for his fearlessness and optimism.

Mourners said they were told Jonathan Blunk, 26, tried to stand up to the gunman and stop him during the 20 July ­attack in Aurora.

“Law enforcement is leaning towards he was trying to get the [suspect’s] gun to save people’s lives,” said Roland Lackey, an air force veteran who led the service. “He was a hero, and I salute him.”

FBI spokesman Dave Joly said he could not comment on the case as legal proceedings were active. Officials have not yet indicated publicly whether anyone inside the Aurora theatre tackled suspected gunman, doctoral student James Holmes, 24, during the shooting spree that left 12 people dead and dozens wounded.

Among the 500 mourners who yesterday packed a mortuary in Reno, Nevada, the city where Blunk was brought up, were his wife, Chantel, daughter, Hailey, aged four, two-year old son Maximus, and dozens of service members.

Blunk, who served three tours in the Middle East from 2004 to 2009, was credited with saving his friend’s life when the gunman burst into the midnight ­showing of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. Kyle Dawson, his shipmate in the US navy, said Blunk’s widow had been told that her husband challenged the gunman. “He was trying to get the guy. Jonny had no fear in any situation. You could count on him,” he said.

Blunk worked for a flooring firm but had planned to re-enlist to become a member of the elite navy Sea Air and Land (Seals) team.