Cortlandt Theater Goers 'Not Afraid,' Business as Usual

While Cortlandt area theatergoers are shocked and saddened by the at a Colorado theater early Friday morning, they are undeterred from going to the movies today.  

The theater was operating normally around 2 p.m. with many parents and children buying tickets for different films. Managers at the in the Cortlandt Town Center said only United Artists corporate office could comment on whether or not extra safety precautions would be taken at the local theater.

"We are profoundly saddened by the tragedy that occurred at a Denver area theatre and are concerned for the victims and their families," Vice president for marketing and communications for the Regal Entertainment Group Russ Nunley told Patch via a statement.

The security and safety of guests and staff is always their number one priority, Nunley said. 

"As is our custom, we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our security needs as necessary," he said in the statement. "In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families."

New York State Police said that they would not be increasing patrols in the Town Center area, but are always ready for any emergencies.

“Any police department and especially the New York State Police, is prepared to respond to any incident that occurs,” said New York State Police Sgt. James Kranik. 

Putnam Valley's Ed Wallach brought dozens of children from Camp Floradan in Putnam Valley to the UA Cortlandt theater to see three different movies this afternoon and said he felt the children were completely safe.

“It is a terrible tragedy but I have children here,” said Wallach. The boys were seeing “The Dark Knight,” and the girls were seeing either “Madagascar” or the Katy Perry movie, he said.

“I don’t know if this was a copy cat incident because Colorado was where the other shooting was, but it is a terrible tragedy," he said.

Another moviegoer said he was also disturbed by the news but was still planning to see “The Dark Knight” later today.

“I felt nervous after I saw it but over the last few hours I am getting over it,” said Nelson Guerrer, a 21-year-old Cortlandt resident, of the Colorado shooting story.

Joyce Cole, of Ossining was also unafraid.

“It is devastating but I am not afraid to go to the movies," said Cole. "It seems like an isolated incident. You can’t be afraid of everything. Something happens every day."

Editor's Note: The article has been updated since its original publication to include a statement from United Artists Corporate as soon as it became available.