Fort Wayne reacts to Colorado shooting

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - In the wake of the Colorado shooting, movie-goers in Fort Wayne told NewsChannel 15 on Friday that they don't plan to change their habits.

"I was horrified. It's awful that can happen," Angela Grove Armstrong, whose children were at the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Columbia City, said. "I feel so very sorry for the parents of the lost children, and some were young kids, but we can't go around being afraid all the time either."

A gunman opened fire in at a Colorado theater at the midnight premier of "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and injuring dozens more.

The tragedy does have management at Jefferson Pointe, the outdoor mall where the RAVE movie theater is, on notice.

"We certainly take a closer look and make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed and ensure we are on the top of our game, and we are," Katrina Newman, the marketing manager at Jefferson Pointe, said.

Newman called the mall's current security procedures "buttoned down." Contracted security officers roam the whole property, state police officers monitor the area outside the theater and the RAVE hires sheriff's officers for security inside.

"I don't think we could do anything drastically to improve because we are already great at what we do here to make sure shoppers are safe," Newman said. "Now we are going to pay special attention to this. I think with any tragedy you have to pay special close attention."

The theater and mall also already hire extra security for big events like movie premiers.

Newsman said people shouldn't be worried about coming to the mall or theater.

"I can bring my own family out," she said. "As with anywhere, you never know what the person next to you is going to do or say, and you just have to be very aware personally of your surroundings."

Several movie-goers don't want to see movie theaters change everything to add metal detectors or bag checks.

"It's just one thing. I don't see it like airports or should be a nationwide problem," Patrick Kiley said.

Toby Baker saw "The Dark Knight Rises" Friday afternoon.

"Evil is everywhere. We can stay in our homes or choose to face it and snuff the evil out," Baker said.

Carmike Cinemas issued this statement Friday evening:

"The Carmike Cinemas family is saddened by the senseless shooting of theatre guests at the Century 16 in Aurora, Colorado.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and the community. Preliminary police reports indicate that the suspect, who is in custody, acted alone and that there is no evidence of any continuing threat.

At Carmike Cinemas our theatre teams are trained in standard security procedures and employ a wide variety of those measures at our complexes across the country.  Many of the security procedures are visible and others are not in the sight of our guests. Uniformed law enforcement officers and plainclothes agents are routinely used.  We pride ourselves in taking every reasonable measure to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all of our guests.

Carmike Cinemas posts a policy in view of guests that informs them of our right to inspect the contents of any backpack, package, or bag prior to admission.  Weapons of any type are strictly not allowed in Carmike Cinemas."