Ohio families await word from loved ones attending Colorado movie premier

Two Ohio families are awaiting information on loved ones caught in a hail of bullets in the fatal shooting rampage at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater early Friday morning.

Two former St. Paris, Ohio siblings, Samantha Yowler, 26, and Nick Yowler, 32, were in the theater for the midnight showing of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises" when a gunman entered the theater and opened fire.

Samantha's boyfriend, Matt McQuinn, formerly of Springfield, was also at the movie with them.

According to Samantha's father, Scott Massie, she was shot in the leg. Nick was not injured. Samantha is scheduled to have surgery Friday afternoon.

Stacie McQuinn, Matt's stepmother, said they do not have any information on where he is or his condition.

She said she and her husband received a call at about 5:15 a.m., and they have been up ever since. She said they haven't been able to reach him on his cell phone and have had trouble getting information through a victim's hotline.

Massie is the Fire Chief of the JSP Joint Fire District in St. Paris,a village of about 2,000 some 30 miles north of Dayton in Champaign County.

He said Nick called his mother, Ann Massie, at about 3 a.m. to say there had been a shooting at the theater. He was still at the theater at the time and there was chaos and commotion in the background.

Ann Massie and Matt's parents are flying to Colorado to be with their children.

Samantha and Matt just moved to Colorado in November. Chief Massie said they went there to get a fresh start. Both found jobs working at Target.

Nick has been living in Colorado since 2001.

Stay with 9 News for updates as they become available.