Police up security at theaters

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH/AP) -- Police are adding extra officers to theaters across the city in the wake of a massacre at a Colorado movie theater.

Police say they will be giving special attention to the Criterion Cinema at 86 Temple Street.

State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Friday state police are stepping up checks of high population venues.

Authorities say they have not received any threats.

At a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," 24-year-old James Holmes walked into a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado armed with  an assault rifle, a shotgun and two pistols.

Police say Holmes threw a gas canister into the crowd and then opened fire, killing 12 people.

• Police: 12 dead in Colorado theater shooting

The shooting is the worst mass shooting in the country since the Nov. 5, 2009 attack at Fort Hood, Texas,  and the deadliest in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.

Officials say they feel that the incident in Colorado was a lone perpetrator, and they are adding extra officers as a precautionary measure.

New Haven police say they are in touch with New York City's counter terrorism unit to determine the best measure to keep the public safe.

New Haven police want to be very clear they have not had any known threats at the Criterion Cinema.

However, they are still stepping up patrol prior to showings of The Dark Knight Rises. Some officers will be in uniform, while others will be in plain clothes.

Officer Hartman says they do not want anyone coming to the movie dressed up in costume as police believe the suspect in the Aurora, Colorado shooting had bullet proof gear on and dressed up.

"There's no terrorist nexus in this," Hartman said, "this was the act of one lone kook, and so everyone should be vigilant, people shouldn't be worried."

"So how's the movie so far," asked News 8's Stephanie Simoni.

"So far so good. It's a really good movie and you guys should come see it," said John Morelli, Criterion movie goer.

"So the shooting in Colorado didn't deter you so far," Simoni asked.

"It did a little, but everybody's not crazy," Morelli said.

Now Hartman says they will keep a heightened security at the theater through the weekend and then they'll reassess if their presence is still needed.

New Haven police is not alone.

Stamford police are also patrolling with the shooting in mind and State Police are reinforcing patrol at movie theaters and other public places across the state.

And police are asking fans to leave their costumes at home.

"They often dress up and knowing what we know now of the tragedy in Colorado, (he) was dressed in such a manner that we don't want somebody dressed as batman in this theater," said Hartman.

Die hard fans like Jeffrey Taylor don't think costumes can hurt.

"If ten is the highest level, I'm a ten and a half. I love Batman," said Taylor. "I think people should still be able to dress up, that was one incident."

"I don't think that has anything to do with anything," said moviegoer Michael Merenda, "I don't see where that would be a danger to anybody or anything like that."

Now AMC Theaters have put a Nationwide ban of costumes in place to give their customers peace of mind.