Families of Aurora, Colorado theater shooting victims question fundraising

AURORA, Colo. - Relatives of some of the people killed in the Aurora theater shootings are demanding that they be allowed to have a voice in deciding who receives more than $5 million in donations raised in the victims' names.

In a news conference Tuesday morning, Tom Teves, father of Alex Teves who was killed in the shooting, said the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) has repeatedly ignored requests from victims to have a say in how donations are spent.

"The victims have no voice at all," Teves said. Instead, he said COVA has put more effort into "political spin" than helping victims.

The Aurora Victim Relief Fund has collected more than $5 million to help the victims. However, it has only distributed $450,000, according to the Community First Foundation website.

On July 27, the fund announced that $100,000 had been given to non-profits directly serving victims and their families.

Giving First has provided $5,000 to 70 victims, Teves said, adding COVA has refused to allow victims to sit on a board that decides how the money was spent.

Twelve people were killed and 58 injured when a gunman opened fire on July 20 during the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises."