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No Security Guards on Duty During Theater Shooting

by KREX News Room
by Associated Press

Story Created: Jul 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2012 at 2:13 PM MDT

AURORA, Colo.- The Colorado movie theater complex that was the scene of a gunman's massacre didn't have any uniformed security guards on duty the night of the shooting, even though other theaters operated by the same company did provide such protection for the busy opening night of "The Dark Knight Rises.''

It's impossible to know whether guards, who are often off-duty police officers, would have spotted the suspected gunman, James Holmes, and thwarted the July 20th attack.

Cinemark usually provides off-duty police guards at the Aurora theater on busy Friday and Saturday nights. Officials say, the other nights are decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on the likelihood of trouble.

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Dave said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 2:18 PM

I concur with the comments except for the 'out gunned' part - most agencies now carry carbines, AR-15s just as the shooter had. This became commonplace after the 1996 L.A.P.D. Bank Robbery shootout. Aurora (CO) PD may not have them, but that would be an exception at this point, most agencies their size and larger have gone to this option.

Loren said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 12:19 PM

In response to Tom Ukele...a lot of police officers are firearms experts! They are trained to tactically shoot. So your statement is correct about being outgunned and this would be a true disadvantage, but cover and concealment and shot placement are key. You need to attend an ACTIVE SHOOTER course with a police department so you can see how to take these nuts out and maybe you will understand more.

Dan Meadows said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 11:19 AM

Unfortunately, this was an extremely planned out event. SG's, depending on agency, would not be armed, unless they were LEOs, who may or may NOT have seen the perpetrator prior to the event. The planning obviously included time spent inside the theater, ingress and egress activities, staging, and the plan to stay in the fight (body armor), should he be engaged by the LEOs. Also, and seldom mentioned, has been the fact that his apt. was rigged with HE's/Chems to trigger upon entry either before or after the ASI. In the event of the perp's demise, and without disclosure as he had done, the death toll could have risen with LEOs at his apt. And although this was a Gun Free Zone (Concealed Cary Holders), the perp paid NO attention to this, so whether or not a CC citizen could have taken him out, will remain unanswered! In my opinion, it is unfortunate that the perp survived this ASI, too bad they don't charge him with Domestic Terrorism as well!

Jerry said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 10:34 AM

The presence of armed security, may well have been a deterent. Historically, individuals who conduct attacks such as this are not looking for a gunfight, in fact, many commit suicide upon arrival of police (e.g. Von Maur shooter in Omaha, NE). This is a classic "lone wolf" attack, difficult to counter, since they pick the time and place. These guys don't just "snap: they go throuth the "five stages of an active shooter" but only in hindsight are indicators recognized.

djm said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 10:24 AM

I agree with tone of comments. First, security guards are seldom armed... Makes you ask, then why have them? Stop or I will yell Stop again. Public’s perception of safety with security versus the actual reality. Second, even a detail police officer, trained and armed, would have been seriously outgunned… imagine responding into a tear gas filled environment with a handgun versus a gas mask wearing mad man with automatic capability and one sick motive.

bamboozled said on Monday, Jul 30 at 12:44 PM

The attack in Aurora, Colorado was not a run-of-the-mill random violent act by a graduate student; it was a carefully planned, plotted, funded, and well-trained attack carried out for a specific purpose. Obama's neck wound story is a cover-up: watch?v=QpbPy7TKe7E

shawn said on Monday, Jul 30 at 11:47 AM

This is nothing. Security guards do not carry weapons or even mace. They are there to keep a deterrence of thefts from cars or vagrants out of the parking lot. Even if police were there there would not have known this was going to happen. same outcome. or worse really

Tom Ukele said on Monday, Jul 30 at 11:31 AM

We would have had a dead police officer if one would have been working off duty. The officer would have been seriously out gunned.

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