Police: Gun scare results in people fleeing Bellefontaine movie theater

People fled a Bellefontaine movie theater in a panic Friday night after a theft suspect making noise resulted in people thinking he had a gun, according to police.

Officers responded to a report of a person with a gun at Chakeres Cinema 8 around 8:43 p.m. Friday.

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Once on the scene, officers found a theft suspect who reportedly entered the theater with stolen items from a local store.

The suspect went into the dark theater to open packaging on the items, making a noise that caused people around him to “flee and panic,” said Lt. Christopher Marlow.

Other patrons started shouting that the man had a weapon, he added.

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No weapon was observed by people at the theater and no weapons were found during the investigation.

The suspect is known to police and they are investigating the alleged theft, Marlow said.

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