A 34-year-old man from Los Angeles was detained after allegedly attacking another moviegoer with pepper spray at a Burbank AMC theater. The incident occurred when the victim was using a cellphone during a movie, resulting in at least two others requiring hospital treatment.
Witnesses reported hearing the sound of aerosol spray followed by a scream. Officers quickly located the suspect in the theater lobby and arrested him. This confrontation over cellphone use has sparked intense online discussions. Some individuals expressed understanding over the issue of screen distractions during films, while others criticized the use of pepper spray as an excessive reaction.
Details of the Arrest
Authorities responded to the incident at the AMC 16 theater, situated in a busy entertainment area, around 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday. Lieutenant Brent Fekety, a Burbank Police spokesperson, confirmed that the suspect, Matthew Ware from Los Angeles, was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. Ware was later booked into the Burbank Jail and released the following morning, according to online jail records.
A witness shared with KTLA-TV that they called the police after hearing the sound of aerosol spray and witnessing the aftermath. Ware was apprehended in the lobby, and images on social media showed him handcuffed, wearing cargo shorts and a black T-shirt featuring the “Terrifier” horror franchise. KTLA also reported that at least two other moviegoers required hospital care due to exposure to the spray.
Public Reaction
The event drew numerous reactions online, with mixed opinions. Some social media users sided with Ware, voicing their frustration with people who use phones during movies, which many consider a breach of an unwritten rule for serious film enthusiasts. However, others condemned the reaction, with one user stating, “People on their phones in the theater are beyond idiots, but you cannot go pepper spraying them.”
The debate over cellphone etiquette in theaters continues, sparked by this recent incident.