Zack Golditch, an Aurora movie theater shooting survivor in 2012, signed with the NFL Los Angeles Chargers after completing his collegiate career at Colorado State University, USA Today reported.
Golditch, an offensive tackle for Colorado State, was injured with 70 other people when he was shot in the neck while watching "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, as a 17-year-old, the newspaper said. In all, 12 people died in the shooting. Golditch was hospitalized for his injuries, USA Today reported.
In 2015, James Holmes was found guilty on all 165 counts against him: 24 first-degree murder, 140 attempted murder and one count of possession or control of an explosive or incendiary device in connection with the theater shooting, per CNN. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
According to The Coloradoan newspaper, Golditch played in 43 games while at Colorado State, starting in 38 of them at CSU and was a first-team All-Mountain West selection last season.
Golditch, now 23, told USA Today that he now realizes that he can be both a football player and a survivor of one of America's worst mass shootings.
"I never stopped and realized this is part of my story," Golditch told USA Today. "I shouldn't push that away, because what I hold on to right now is a story, not just about myself, but about of everyone else. I can carry that and represent them through what I do and how I carry myself. I have to embrace it."
Golditch said he remembers running from the theater when he was shot with others, calling 911 when he reached the parking lot, USA Today reported. He told the newspaper that his ears were ringing and he could feel blood gushing from his neck wound.
The bullet, though, made a clean entry and exit through the neck, just missing critical arteries, vertebrae and skull, the newspaper said.
"It was pretty hectic," Golditch told USA Today. "It was like if you see any doctor show on TV, doctors and nurses running around, patients being carted. I don't know if I was one of the early patients or whatever, but I remember I got booted from a room because someone needed some serious attention."
He told the newspaper that football helped him heal emotionally. He was named all-state in football and won the state discus title before earning a scholarship to play at Colorado State, redshirting his first year, USA Today said.
He became the first person in his family to graduate college, earning double majors in sociology and ethnic studies.
"I was a 17-year-old kid going to see a movie, next thing you know I might not have come home that night," Golditch told USA Today. "For me to still be able to play football, to be able to be a normal person and an able-bodied person is great. I take nothing for granted. This opportunity to continue to live my life today is amazing."
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