Grandmother of youngest Colo. victim shares grief

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, was the youngest fatality in the Colorado movie theater massacre. Her grandmother Anna Moser is seen at right. / WCBS

This story originally appeared on CBS New York.

(CBSNewYork) NEW YORK - On the same day the suspect in the Colorado movie massacre appeared in court, the grandmother of the tragedy's youngest victim spoke with CBS 2's Chris Wragge about her loss.

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, was the youngest victim of the movie theater massacre. Her grandmother Anna Moser is racked with grief and also with guilt.

"If I had been there, I would have suggested for her to stay with me," Moser said.

Moser came to New York City on a family trip that was supposed to help her deal with the loss of her husband, who died just eight weeks ago after a battle with leukemia.

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"This was supposed to be healing vacation for me, to help me adjust," Moser said.

In her worst nightmare, she never imagined she would also have to adjust to the loss of her little "pumpkin" Veronica.

"She was a very special girl. She was intelligent. She was a sweetheart," Moser said through tears.

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Veronica and her mother, Ashley, lived with Moser, who is actually Veronica's step-grandmother. Ashley remains in critical condition with bullets lodged in her throat and abdomen.

Moser said had she been home, she would have likely babysat Veronica like she had happily done on so many other occasions.

"Especially the Batman movie, Veronica's a Disney child. She was into her princesses and other sweet little girl things," Moser said.

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As for the man accused of killing her step-granddaughter and 11 others the night Moser made her way to New York, she said she wants justice.

"I just can't fathom what got into him, to do this I don't understand that type of criminal mind, I don't understand it," she said.

Moser had been with Veronica since the day she was born. She only has six short years of memories, but she said those will last a lifetime. She said she just hopes the pain will subside.

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"It's like I don't have enough tears for what's going on," Moser said.

While a nation and a Colorado community are still in shock, the Mosers and Veronica's father, Ian Sullivan, are experiencing a pain and sorrow shared by the families of the other victims.

"I love her, I miss her. I know she is with her grandfather and I know she's safe now," Moser said.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized for Veronica. Her mom is paralyzed from her waist down. She was also pregnant, but, miraculously, the baby is fine, Moser said.

[dalychica]

This is what is wrong with our country...people actually think it okay to get on and post their opinions about a 6 yr being at the midnight showing. WHO are you to judge? Every single comment should be supporting all the victims and their families. I am shocked and disgusted. The shooter lacked humanity so we as a nation need to show our humanity and be supportive not judgemental. This is no time to judge. Our county thrives on judging others instead of focusing on bein compassionate, kind human beings!!!!

[freedom_in_truth]

Rational people have a right to question why a 6-year-old was attending a PG13 movie at midnight. My adult daughter and her husband have attended midnight premieres where children were in attendance, and she said the youngest ones cry and the older ones want to talk. Dragging children to a midnight movie is not good for the children nor is it appreciated by the other patrons. In little Veronica's case, her mother Ashley, according to Ashley's friends, was actually secretly meeting her boyfriend there...against the approval of Ashley's family and Ian Sullivan's (Veronica's father)family. The mystery boyfriend is the father of Ashley's unborn child. So Ashley's sexual proclivities trumped her mothering instinct. One could truthfully say Ashley's poor parenting decision put Veronica at greater risk. However, a sadder truth is that Veronica could have been murdered playing in her own front yard. (By the way, where was this mysterious boyfriend when Ashley was being shot up and Veronica murdered? Did he not show up at the theater? Did he run off and abandon them during the massacre?) Regardless, more gun control will not end the carnage. A decade ago in the U.K., where gun control is severe, a guy took a machete and killed a bunch of children at school. The truth is, a madman (or woman) will find a way to produce the carnage their twisted minds seek, with or without guns. We need to learn the lessons we can glean from this event, mourn with those who mourn, love our families as if each day was our last, and make the most of the life God gave us while we can.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
another massacre after the one in Tucson, it will not be the last unfortunately, the killing has provoked, grief, anger and indignation, statements gushed forth from all sides, but the main has not been said in other terms what future for the law that saddens the Americans?
even the two presidential candidates does not dare broach the subject.
"au revoir"

[Violetsmimi]

I can not believe people are blaiming the parents for this, the person who pulled the trigger is the only person who is responisble for the fact that this little girl will never turn seven ......you judgmental, arrogant, SAD people.......

As a grandmother, my heart breaks for this woman who loved a child whose voice she will never hear again...a child who will never again say " I love you Grandma"...If you have come on this site and placed blaim on the the mother who took the child out to the movies, shame on you....You need to get off the internet and re think you views, re think your motives abd say a little prayer that the people you love are still able to say " I love back".....

[lloydbest1]

Questionable parenting or not, a child died who shouldn't have while participating in a generally harmless activity. No one would have said "boo" if Mr. holmes had kept his homicidal impulses to himself.

A better thing to do than spending the energy condemning the parents (grandparents) is to work together to come up with ways we can prevent another atrocity just like this one (or worse).

[Montana5]

Well said.

[Oh_REALLY_Chum]

I wanted to say, how terrible it is that the grandmother would feel that way, it isn't her fault, IT ISN'T ANYONE'S FAULT except the crazy shooter.

What in gods name is wrong with you people? You idiots that want to blame the parents and grandparents are the next crazed shooters we need to worry about.

[lacpeb]

I don't understand what makes people think that they can sit in judgment of others. Especially when it comes to a mother's decision to allow her child to stay up late to attend a movie. Even if it was a violent movie, the child would likely sleep through it. The only time I might question this mother's judgment is if the child was acting up and disturbing others. The likelihood of the child ending up in the path of a bullet was very slim, and it is truly arrogant for the public to offer opinions after the fact and in the midst of such grief. Maybe your time would be better spent visiting an elderly neighbor or babysitting for a mother who can't afford a sitter rather than banging your keyboard with such hatred and ignorance.

[ampsanne]

lacpeb...it is not hatred or ignorance...it's just common sense that a child that age should be in bed at that hour. Okay, so you decide to leave the child stay up later, still it was no place to be at that time of night. It is just good parenting. Nobody is hating the parents or judging them. It's just good parenting in my book.

[Rafterman11]

I hate to pile on, and some of you are right, blaming the victims is weak. But you cannot ignore the basic concept that a six year old had no business being at a loud, violent ,movie at midnight. Tragedies are often a series of bad decisions in a row, converging at a single point of explosion. And taking young children to a midnight movie is one of those bad decisions in the chain of events.

[Oh_REALLY_Chum]

Really? A 6 year old should not have been watching batman? Get some help freak.

[Outspoken-1]

Criticizing a woman who is in the hospital, who has just been shot, is paralyzed and has just lost her 6 year old daughter is pretty callous. Now is the time for sympathy, not casting stones.

[ralphing]

I seriously doubt she is laying up in a hospital with serious injuries, and is reading a few comments on this CBS site. Public opinion doesn't hurt anyone.

[angelofurnightmare]

It really bothers me that people are blaming this child's mother...many people have taken a child to a movie that others may deem inappropriate...hell people watch TV...This little girl was on an outting with her mother who has every right to make decisions for her children not us...Please stop judging and pray or offer up good thoughts or whatever it is you personally do for these families...also it is a miracle that her unborn baby is still alive...it is in no way going to replace her precious daughter but this family needs something to hold onto

[yoyoinla]

amen

[ralphing]

So you're saying it would be ok to take a young child on a jungle safari where it is possible for the group to be attacked by a wild animal? It's not appropriate for the kid to be there, and if something goes wrong the kid would be the first to be injured because they are less apt to do the right thing in an emergency. Best left at home.

[unclebernies]

A 6 year old child should be in bed at midnight. That being said the real issue in this country is allowing pychotic people to buy guns and ammo with little or no regulation.