Sailor killed in Colorado returns home to Crystal Lake
The body of Crystal Lake Navy officer John Larimer was returned to his hometown Thursday, almost a week after the Crystal Lake South High School graduate was killed in the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo.
Larimer, 27, was among 12 people killed when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater crowded with patrons watching the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” just after midnight on Friday, July. 20.
Through a Navy spokeswoman, the Larimer family Thursday afternoon requested that no media outlets cover Thursday's procession or funeral services at the Davenport Family Funeral Home in Crystal Lake.
The release also stated that the family would not make any statements or grant interviews now or in the future.
A post on the Illinois Old Guard Facebook page said Larimer's family had requested its help to “honor their fallen hero” with an escort and through all parts of his funeral service. Members of the Illinois Old Guard, Patriot Guard and other veterans groups joined Crystal Lake police and fire departments in escorting Larimer's hearse to the funeral home.
Near the end of the procession route, Bill Keith, of Crystal Lake, saluted as Larimer's hearse passed by. Keith, who knew Larimer as a Boy Scout in Troop 168 described Larimer as “just a good kid. Full of life.”
Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley said the whole city would stand behind the Larimer family like residents had done for other fallen members of the miliary.
“The whole scenario is just a horrific set of circumstances that no one could imagine could happen to them,” Shepley said via phone Thursday. “I think the fact that a couple thousand miles away in Aurora, Colo., a Crystal Lake native has become a victim of the whole tragedy brings it that much closer to home. The Larimer family should know that Crystal Lake is the kind of community where thousands of people will be standing at the ready to help anyway they can.”
Visitation for Larimer is from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday, at the Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake. A private funeral and burial are also planned.