D.C.-area police are paying “close attention” to movie theaters after a shooter opened fire in a Colorado cinema and killed 12 people early Friday.
No specific threat has been reported in Washington, but D.C., Virginia and Maryland police said on-duty officers are being proactive and spending extra time patrolling movie theaters.
“There’s always a concern that a copycat crime may be committed,” Assistant Metropolitan Police Chief Lamar Greene said at a media briefing. “What I would encourage people to do is be vigilant and pay attention and report any suspicious activity that is observed.”
On Friday afternoon, many Washington-area theaters continued to show “The Dark Knight Rises,” the highly anticipated Batman film that was playing when the shooting started in Aurora, Colo.
Theater employees at Regal Gallery Place multiplex in the District searched moviegoers bags and purses as they took their tickets for the 11 a.m. showing, the AP reports.
“I just felt bad for the people that had to be traumatized by this entire event,” Jimmy Baker told the Associated Press in front of a New York theater.
“I didn’t feel like it had any kind of effect on me. … I’m just here to enjoy a good movie.”
