A night at the movies turned into a horrifying experience when a masked gunman entered a Colorado midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” Friday and opened fire, killing 12 and wounding 59.
Consequently, the Paris premiere of the Batman film was canceled Friday.
It was all shocking news to wake up to, and many local superhero fans and movie theater managers were distraught by the tragedy.
At Carmike Ashtabula Mall 6, manager Chris Duryea said the Ashtabula theater is in a “good, secure location.” He’s never had any problems.
“I read the shooter (in Colorado) got in through the emergency exits,” he said. “It’s difficult to get in our doors.”
As for the midnight screening, Duryea said he was pleased with the turnout.
“We had a decent enough crowd,” he said.
Gabe Garbrant, 23, of Ashtabula, saw the show early Friday.
“I loved it,” he said, with much enthusiasm.
Garbrant, who has seen all of the Batman films, said he will see the film again over the weekend and he’s not concerned about safety.
“It sounds dumb, but things like that don’t happen in Ashtabula,” he said.
Ashtabula resident, Linda Boles, 62, saw “The Dark Knight Rises” Friday afternoon. She said she liked it, but couldn’t help but think of the shootings in Colorado.
“People were out for a good time, lots of kids because it’s summertime and then some nut has to destroy innocent lives,” she said. “It’s a horrible tragedy.”
Movie-goer Maria Rodriquez, 51, of Ashtabula agreed.
“It weighed on my mind,” she said. “We go to the theater all the time and never think you might be shot.”
Chris Pribilski, general manager at Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center 16, Mentor, said Friday’s midnight show was very successful.
“It was full of fans who were excited to see the movie,” he said.
Alex Conner, 23, of Ashtabula, was one of those fans.
“The movie was awesome,” said Conner, who hadn’t heard about the shootings as of Friday morning.
Pribilski said he doesn’t anticipate any problems at the Mentor theater complex, nor is he beefing up security.
The shooting occurred at a Cinemark theater, which is the nation’s third-largest chain with 298 theaters and 3,895 screens in 39 states, according to the company’s website.
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