SAN ANTONIO – Like many in the nation and in San Antonio, the KSAT newsroom has been touched personally by the tragedy in Colorado.
Jessica Ghawi, who attended UTSA and interned in San Antonio at 760 AM "The Ticket" radio station and KABB-TV, is among the dead.
Ghawi had many friends at KSAT 12, leaving the newsroom saddened by Friday's events.
"She was passionate. She was fiery. It matched her red hair," said KSAT 12 sportscaster Larry Ramirez, who said he considered Ghawi to be like family. "She became like a little sister to me. I've lost my dad and my mom and this hurts pretty much the same."
Ghawi's longtime friend, KSAT 12 reporter Jennifer Dodd, said she was shocked and saddened by Friday morning's news.
"She had one of the sweetest spirits I can say I've ever known," said Dodd. "She was just a sweet, sweet girl."
"She was the kind of person that after you first met her, you never forgot her," added KSAT 12 Meteorologist John Honore'. "She was a spitfire. She was energetic (and) extroverted."
"Broadcasting is a very big business, but on days like Friday, it becomes a very small business -- a well-connected brother and sisterhood," said KSAT 12 Sports Director Greg Simmons.
A hockey enthusiast, Ghawi had followed her dream of becoming a sports broadcaster, interning in San Antonio before moving to Denver to continue her passion.
"She (had) that type of personality (that) was going to make it one way or the other and I'd give her all the credit in the world for taking that chance," added Simmons.