Panic Over 'The Dark Knight Rises' Shooting Leads to Miami Man's Arrest
The Aurora, Colo., shooting during "The Dark Knight Rises" opening weekend last month has caused many to be cautious while watching the movie, as was the case in Miami when a man was arrested after causing a panic by yelling "this is it!"
David Martin Escamillo, 44-year-old Miami resident, was arrested at the Regal Movie Theater on Monday night. After an altercation with a fellow moviegoer, Escamillo left the theater and came back wearing black gloves while screaming "this is it!"
The act caused an estimated one hundred audience members to run out of the theater, according to an affidavit released by the Miami Beach Police Department. An NBC News report stated that police arrived to the scene after hearing that shots had gone off in the theater, however Escamillo was found unarmed with no signs of carrying a firearm.
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"We were able to determine there was never any weapon, it was just this individual with the two black gloves saying, 'This is it,'" Miami Beach Police Sgt. Bobby Hernandez said in the NBC News report.
Escamillo reportedly left his seat to cruise the aisles of the movie theater several times, according to police reports. Although he was taken down by a few other movie-goers before police arrived and caused harm to no one, the 44-year-old Miami resident is being held on $8,000 bond.
While the Escamillo is facing disorderly conduct and affray charges, a warrant for his arrest was also issued stemming from battery charges according to jail records.
The July 20 incident sparked concern after the Aurora, Colo., shooting that took place last month where 12 people were killed in a movie theater while watching "The Dark Knight Rises."
Since James Holmes, the 24-year-old suspected killer who allegedly unleashed his ammunition in the Colorado movie theater last month, other copycat cases have been reported. A man from Maine was apprehended by police with numerous weapons last month after allegedly attempting to imitate the massacre that took place in Aurora.
Timothy Courtois, 49, was captured by police in York, Maine last month with an AK-47 assault rifle, four handguns, several boxes of ammunition and clippings of newspaper articles about the Colorado Batman shooting. Courtis told authorities that he attended "The Dark Knight Rises" but did not harm anyone, according to reports from BDN Maine.
