KMIZ: Management at the Goodrich Capital 8 Theaters is defending what it calls a publicity stunt at the movie theaters this past weekend.Police reacted by opening “an active shooter investigation.”
During the opening weekend of the latest ‘Iron Man’ movie, a man walked into the theater in full tactical gear and carrying a fake gun.
Jefferson City police and witnesses, however, are not pleased with the stunt and are questioning the theater’s logic after recent shootings in Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn.
John Molock is a retired Army war veteran and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He told ABC 17 News this most recent trip to the movies triggered memories he never wanted to relive.
“We had just finished watching Iron Man 3,” said Morlock. “We’re just getting into the car when I spotted a man in full assault gear, carrying what appeared to be a modified M-4 and 9 mm on his side.”
Morlock did not call police, but several other moviegoers did.
“Everything was in place, it’s the opening night of a superhero movie, it’s somebody walking in all-dark clothes, everything pointed to bad things about to happen,” said Jefferson City Police Capt. Doug Shoemaker. “There’s really no good that can come of this.”
Needless to say, theater management put the actor they hired at tremendous risk. He could easily have been shot by police.
Asked if he had any regrets, Capital 8 Theaters manager Bob Wilkins said, “No, my job is to entertain people.”
The company has since apologized for the incident.
[image via marvelousRoland]
