Alex Sullivan
Alex Sullivan was an Aurora, Colo., bartender who was among the 12 confirmed dead after a movie theater shooting during a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora. He was attending the movie to celebrate his 27th birthday. Image Credit: Sullivan Family

On a day that was supposed to celebrate his life, Alex Sullivan was killed.

Sullivan, an Aurora, Colo., bartender, is latest victim to be identified among the 12 confirmed dead mass shooting victims who were killed during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora. He was attending the movie to celebrate his 27th birthday.

Oh man, one hour till the movie and its going to be the best BIRTHDAY ever, he tweeted.

According to ABC News, Sullivan's friends and family unsuccessfully tried to make contact with him and grew concerned when they did not hear from him after the shooting occurred.

After realizing that his car was still parked in the lot at the Century 16 theater in Aurora -- and that he was not one of the injured being treated at local hospitals -- those close to Sullivan were forced to face a grim reality.

In the hours following the shooting, a family friend confirmed to ABC News that Sullivan was among the people who died in the theater shortly after midnight, allegedly at the hands of suspect James Eagan Holmes.

The Sullivan family lost a cherished member of their family, a family representative said in a statement. Alex was smart, funny, and above all, loved dearly by his friends and family. Today was his 27th birthday.

Sullivan's friend, Bryan Beard, along with Alex's father, Tom Sullivan, camped out at Gateway High School, where witnesses were taken after the attack.

The elder Sullivan carried a photo of his son, hoping someone would recognize him. Shelly Fradkin, who is Beard's mother, said Aurora Police were supportive in communicating what they could to friends and family members.

They have really gone above and beyond, she said earlier in the day. We have turned over ever y stone we possibly could today.

His uncle, Jim Loewenguth, said Sullivan was an employee at the theater, but was off that night.

Sullivan was married and loved to cook, Loewenguth said.

He was full of joy and never had a bad chip on his shoulder, he added.

Families of the deceased had not been notified until Friday night because an active investigation was under way at the crime scene in Aurora, police said.

More stories are expected to surface Saturday morning when police publicly release a list of the victims.