Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Moviegoer Shoots Man for Talking

He pulls gun while trying to watch Benjamin Button

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 27, 2008 12:52 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – A Philadelphia man attempting to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in peace resorted to violence, shooting the father of a family that was talking during the film, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The father survived the gunshot wound to his arm, while the attacker was charged with attempted murder, assault, and a gun violation. The screening was, naturally, on Christmas Day.

After an argument over the noise level escalated from verbal abuse to popcorn throwing to a physical altercation, the attacker drew a pistol and shot the father. Other patrons ran for cover as the man, apparently satisfied, sat down and continued to watch the Brad Pitt film. Police found the attacker, with his gun, in the theater and arrested him.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."   (AP Photo)
Brad Pitt is shown in a scene from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Brad Pitt is shown in a scene from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."   (AP Photo)
James Joseph Cialella, charged with attempted murder for the shooting.
James Joseph Cialella, charged with attempted murder for the shooting.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Guest
Dec 28, 2008 6:26 AM CST
I doubt the guy with a gun (which he was obviously ready to use) asked the other person to be quiet in the nicest possible way... Way too many assumptions about what happened to place so much blame on the noise maker.
Guest
Dec 28, 2008 6:16 AM CST
Look, the noise-maker was warned. No he didn't deserve to be shot, no one does, but he chose to escalate the situation. He was in the wrong BUT he decided to take the low-road and make things worse. Remember, all he had to do was be quiet, respect the other moviegoers, maybe even apologize. No, he wanted to be the "man," and make a case for being an obnoxious A-hole. Boy did he face the wrong guy to be an A-hole with. We should learn from this tragic incident and, when in the WRIONG, man-up and do the right thing.
Thinker
Dec 28, 2008 3:01 AM CST
I no longer go to movies because of noisy, rude people. I won't spend my money to deal with them. I'm sorry, but some people can only take so much. And parents who take babies to movie theaters should be shot.

A review of the film
New York Times

Perp doesn't look like a "Benjamin Button" type...
Fox Philadelphia (WTFX)

 
Brad Pitt • Philadelphia • noise • Cate Blanchett • gun violence • movies • movie theaters • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button • talking • attempted murder

More Newser Stories

Button Looks Great, Less Filling

'Yuma' Rustles Up Movie Fans
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne