We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A NORTHEAST OHIO man brought a gun, ammunition and several knives to a showing of the latest Batman movie because he wanted to protect himself in case someone tried to replicate last month’s deadly Colorado theater shooting.
Scott A. Smith, 37, had no intention of causing harm or inducing panic when he brought the weapons to a Saturday showing of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, said his attorney, Matthew Bruce:
With the recent shooting in Colorado, and the other incidents around the country in regards to threats, he felt that he needed protection.
Bruce said he was referring to movie theater threats made after the deadly 20 July shooting in Aurora, Colorado, where a 24-year-old man is accused of killing 12 people and wounding 58 at a midnight showing of the same movie.
“Why pick that movie?”
Bruce said his client “felt a sense of fear” about going to a theater, and chose the Batman movie by complete coincidence.
Smith brought the weapons to a Regal Cinemas theater in Westlake, just outside Cleveland, and seated himself in the middle of the theater’s back row a half an hour before the movie started, police said.
A theater manager and an off-duty police officer working security stopped Smith after they became suspicious of a bag he was carrying, said Westlake Police Lt. Ray Arcuri:
Why pick that movie? Why that theater? Why sit in the back all the way like that? Why bring the gun?There’s several unanswered questions.
Smith was arrested without incident and is currently being held. Bruce said his client has been cooperative with officials.
He was expected to be indicted on several weapons charges, but it’s still too early to determine what those charges will be, said Nicole DiSanto of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office.
Drug dependent?
Arcuri said one of the charges police may pursue for Smith is having weapons under disability. He said Smith was taking daily medication, but he would not elaborate on what that medication is.
“Our contention is that he’s drug dependent” he said. “And as a result, he should not be possessing a firearm”.
The theater manager first noticed Smith and a beige bag he carried over his shoulder, Arcuri said. When approached, Smith told the manager it had medical supplies inside. He then showed the manager a portion of the bag that didn’t reveal the weapons.
The off-duty Westlake police officer also noticed Smith and his bag. After checking with the manager, the officer followed Smith into the empty theater.
The officer said Smith consented to a search inside the theater. Arcuri said the officer was more familiar with the bag, and he knew where to look when he found a loaded 9 mm Glock pistol with two extra loaded magazines, Arcuri said. The officer also found three knives in the bag and another knife on Smith, he said. There were also medical supplies, but Arcuri would not elaborate on what they were.
When the officer asked Smith why he brought the weapons into the theater, Smith offered to put them in his car.
Arcuri applauded the off-duty officer for trusting his instincts and pursuing Smith.
“For an officer to observe that, take the initiative, approach him” he said. “Basically, avert a tragedy if he pulls a pistol out and starts shooting”.
According to the Westlake Patch police searched Smith’s home on Monday night and found more weapons, including at least six pistols and several shotguns and rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. They also found more than one bulletproof vest.
Little information is available about Smith. He is married with an infant daughter, Arcuri said. His wife told police her husband was a sleep technician for some sort of medical research, but Arcuri could not elaborate.
Smith also served a brief time in the U.S. Army. He enlisted in January 1995 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training that month. He was discharged a month later, according to the Army, which did not disclose why.
Smith had no previous criminal record, Arcuri said. He said Smith did not have a concealed carry permit and should not have brought any weapon to the theater:
Our job is to protect the community. It’s not his role. If there’s a gun, it’s because our officers brought it. It’s not his job to bring the gun, it’s ours.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Shocking stuff this,rip
Garda appeal for public information – aka – Help us out when we need you. Other than that, we are fully justified in ripping you off with penalty points on perfectly good stretches of road with low limits, we’re justified in giving you a bad and condescending attitude at checkpoints and generally being unhelpful with any crime you report.
But please help us out when we’re under the spotlight.
Jaysus mick, the local constabulary must have done a real number on you somewhere along the way.
Must agree! We were robbed before and had to find and retrieve our own items. Hmmm. And we’re then asked to name the culprits as they had robbed a few neighbours also!!
I live about 15 doors away from where this happened. Its around the corner but about 15terraced houses away. There are 2 large cctv cameras pointing in the direction of the back of the eatate. Ive seen no police on my street all day and none yesterday also. Im sure they know what they are doing though!!!!!
Did you think of ringing them and offering this information or are you waiting for them to call and ask you?
rural ireland is now living very much in fear because the entire police and court systems suffers with apathy anger and as a group are only interested in themselves and the cartel its them and us….R.I.P. John
Which cartel would that be Harry? The Cali cartel or the Medellin cartel?
Dublin be f@#ked
⬆ Moron
I’m truly shocked and saddened as I grew up in Ormond square and lived there for the best part of 25 years. I’m out about as long as that man is in so didn’t know him but pray for his family today.
News has to happen! Generally its stories from the recent past.rip
How many stabbings is that in Dublin in the last 2 weeks?! Four? Shotgun city is now stab city. And how people used to slate limerick with this stab city tag is laughable by comparison.
According to a dublin judge stabbings are a daily occurrence in dublin, according to a consultant, st james hospital treats 1,000 stab victims a year, not to mention tallaght and the rest of dublins hospitals.
5,000 stabbings a year in dublin wouldn’t be an overly expansive figure.
But then Dublin was always stab city, the dublin media just projected it on to limerick.
Is this yesterday’s news.
It’s a follow onto the story. Colladh Samh John
have your say