Armed man in Northeast Ohio brought a gun, ammunition and several knives to a showing of the latest Batman movie The Dark Night Rises, because he wanted to protect himself in case someone tried to replicate last month’s deadly Colorado theatre shooting.
US police officers have arrested an armed man at a screening of the latest Batman The Dark Night Rises movie with a bag full of weapons and knives in a case that evoked a recent rampage in Aurora theatre, Colorado that claimed many of lives.
37-year-old man Scott Smith has been arrested late on Saturday at a local cinema in Ohio after he was found to be carrying a bag with a loaded Glock pistol, 2 extra fully-loaded magazines and 3 knives.
Scott Smith was arrested after he entered Ohio theater showing Batman film with bag full of weapons / Batman The Dark Night Rises News
Scott Smith’s attorney, Matthew Bruce said that Scott Smith had no intention of causing harm or inducing panic when he brought the weapons to a Saturday showing of the Batman new film The Dark Knight Rises.
Scott Smith had bought a ticket for the 10 pm showing of Batman film The Dark Knight Rises at a Regal Cinemas about 16 miles west of Cleveland. Scott Smith was the first and only person inside the movie theater and he sat in the center seat of the back row – a position with tactical advantage, police said.
Scott Smith has been arrested by off-duty Westlake police officer Jeremiah Bullins, after it was discovered that Smith’s bag contained a fully-loaded 9 mm pistol, 2 full magazines and 3 knives. Bullins also found a 4th knife under Scott Smith’s clothing.
Saturday’s incident in northeast Ohio comes just 2 weeks after the July 20 shooting rampage at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, that left 12 dead and 58 wounded. The Aurora shooting by jailed James Holmes happened at a showing movie of Batman The Dark Knight Rises.
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One of the Westlake police officers has commented : ‘ When you consider the movie he was going to and what happened in Colorado, you have to wonder what would make him want to bring the weapons into that particular film. Our police officer did a great job spotting him. ‘
Except for traffic violations, arrested Scott Smith does not have a criminal record and police said he never made any threats. In Scott Smith’s home in the nearby town of North Ridgeville, Westlake police found about 8 rifles and handguns, as well as gas masks and bulletproof vests. His wife told police she knew about this gun room but was not aware of Smith’s motives.
Scott Smith also served a brief time in the US Army. He enlisted in January 1995 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training that month. Smith was discharged a month later, which did not disclose why.
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