- President Obama tells how a woman helped her wounded friend in the Aurora theater
- Allie Young was shot in the neck but is going to be fine because of her friend, Obama says
- Stephanie Davies pulled Young into an aisle and put pressure on her friend's wound, he says
- Obama: Wounded Young urged friend to run, but she refused
(CNN) -- Seconds after a gunman shot Allie Young in the neck in a crowded Colorado theater, a friend, Stephanie Davies, pulled her into an aisle, put pressure on her wound and dialed 911. Young told her friend to run, but Davies refused.
President Barack Obama gave that account Sunday night in Aurora, praising Davies and others for heroism amid chaos and bloodshed in the shooting that killed 12 and wounded 58.
Shooting survivors recount horror
The women had settled in alongside others early Friday for a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," the latest installment in the Batman series.
Suddenly a gunman threw canisters only a few feet from where the pair sat.
Greg Zanis of Aurora, Illinois, carries two of the 12 crosses he made for a makeshift memorial to the victims of last weekend's mass shooting at the Century 16 movie theater on Sunday, July 22. Twelve people were killed early Friday, July 20, during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado. Suspected gunman James E. Holmes was taken into custody shortly after the attack.
Greg Zanis writes the names of the victims of last weekend's mass shooting on the crosses before erecting them at the memorial across from the Century 16 movie theater on Sunday.
Parishioners pray during morning Mass, remembering victims of the theater shooting, at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Sunday.
Angie Terry, from Alabama, prays next to a white wooden cross erected for victims.
A man pauses before the crosses at the memorial near the Century 16 movie theater on Sunday.
President Barack Obama embraces Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper as Sen. Mark Udall (left) and Sen. Michael Bennet look on during a visit to the University of Colorado Hospital on Sunday.
Mourners bow their heads in prayer during the vigil for the victims of the Aurora shooting.
A woman is overcome with emotion during the vigil.
Tiffany Garcia, right, and her six-year-old daughter, Angelina Garcia, cry on Saturday, July 21, as they look at a memorial for the victim's of Friday's shooting.
People pray at a cross erected on the site of the makeshift memorial across the street from the Century 16 theater on Saturday.
Family, friends and former classmates of movie theater shooting victim AJ Boik gather for a memorial service at Gateway High School on Saturday.
Boik and his girlfriend were at the midnight showing of 'The Dark Knight Rises' when a guman killed Boik and 11 other people.
Movie theater shooting victim AJ Boik's girlfriend, Lasamoa Croft, center, embraces his mother during the memorial service.
Eman Alexander, 17, pins a ribbon on his shirt while joining family, friends and former classmates to honor shooting victim AJ Boik.
Denise Toepel of Denver sheds tears while visiting a makeshift memorial across the street from the Century 16 movie theater on Saturday, July 21.
Handwritten signs decorate the makeshift memorial across from the Century 16 movie theater on Saturday.
Gerald Wright, 24, relights candles that have blown out at the victims' memorial across from the movie theater.
Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jajuan Mangual lowers the American flag on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to half-mast on Saturday. One U.S. Navy sailor was injured in the shooting and another who was known to have been at the theater was unaccounted for.
Two women mourn near the theater on Saturday.
Alicia Prevette, left, and Paul Stepherson attend a vigil for the victims Friday at the Century 16 movie theater.
A woman lights a candle at a makeshift memorial where the victims of the massacre are mourned.
Mourners hold hands at a vigil near the theater.
Mourners hug as they grieve the loss of the victims.
A group of teenagers stand behind a sign that reads "Strength."
Dara Anderson, left, and Monique Anderson cry during a candlelight vigil across the street from the crime scene.
A woman holds a lit candle at a makeshift memorial.
Marietta Perkins of Denver prays for victims and their families.
Lonnie Delgado, right, hugs Heaven Leek during a prayer.
A mourner grieves on the curb during a memorial service.
People hug during a vigil for the victims.
Handwritten consolation letters lay beneath flowers at a makeshift memorial.
Nathan Mendoza, left, and Melissa Clark sit on the grass during a vigil.
Flags, flowers and candles make up a memorial site.
Two mourners sit on the ground at a vigil.
A sign prevents moviegoers from wearing masks or bringing in props to the AMC Arapahoe Crossing 16 movie theater in Aurora.
A woman looks at a makeshift memorial after attending a candlelight vigil.
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
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Colorado massacre: Mourning the victims
Aurora begins healing process
Roots of a rampage
Young, 19, instinctively stood to act or warn others. A shot ripped into her neck. She collapsed, blood spurting from the wound, Obama said.
Instead of running or hiding, Davies, 21, pulled Young into the aisle and put pressure on the wound with one hand and dialed 911 with the other, Obama said.
"I don't know how many people at any age would have the presence of mind that Stephanie did, or the courage that Allie showed," the president said. "They represent what's best in us, and they assure us that out of this darkness, a brighter day is going to come."
When the SWAT team arrived, Davies helped carry Young to an ambulance.
Because of Davies' actions, Young is going to be fine, the president said.
Obama flew to Aurora on Sunday evening and met with families at a local hospital for more than two hours before delivering brief remarks to the media.
'Words are ... inadequate,' Obama tells victims' families
