By P. SOLOMON BANDA
Associated Press
AURORA, Colo. (AP) - The Colorado movie theater
where a gunman killed 12 people and wounded dozens of others reopens
Thursday with a private ceremony for victims, first responders and
officials - an event boycotted as insensitive by some of those who lost
loved ones in the massacre.
Theater owner Cinemark plans to temporarily reopen
the entire 16-screen complex in Aurora to the public on Friday, then
permanently on Jan. 25. Aurora's mayor, Steve Hogan, has said residents
overwhelmingly support reclaiming what he calls "an important venue for
Aurora."
Former neurology student James Holmes is charged
with 166 felony counts, mostly murder and attempted murder, in the July
20 massacre at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes has
until March to enter a plea.
Details about Thursday's ceremony - which was to
include the showing of an undisclosed movie - were a closely guarded
secret. Cinemark, of Plano, Texas, refused to comment on the
remembrance, refurbishments to the theater, or security measures.
Victims and invited officials also refused to comment.
Victims have filed at least three federal lawsuits
against Cinemark alleging it should have provided security for the
midnight "Dark Knight" premier on July 20 and that an exit door used by
the gunman to get his weapons and re-enter should have had an alarm. In
court papers, Cinemark says the tragedy was "unforeseeable and random."
Those invited to attend included victims, families, first responders, Hogan and Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Some victims said it's important to reclaim the
theater. Others called its reopening insensitive and refused an
invitation to attend Thursday's event.
"The community wants the theater back and by God,
it's back," said Tom Sullivan, whose son, Alex Sullivan, 27, was killed.
"Nobody is going to stop us from living our lives the way that we lived
our lives before. This is where I live."
Alex Sullivan's widow, Cassandra Sullivan, joined
15 relatives of victims in issuing a recent statement that called the
Cinemark invitation "disgusting and insensitive."
"They can do whatever they want. I think it was pretty callous," said Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, was killed.
The orange, purple and teal neon lights that lit
the sky the night of July 20 at the former Century 16 - now the Century
Aurora - have been replaced. On the walls, a mural depicts a man and
woman, a film reel, and popcorn.
Before Cinemark spent a reported $1 million on
renovations, it allowed victims and families to visit the theater's
auditorium No. 9, where the attack occurred. At least two people who
escaped the shooting called it a good idea.
"It does help significantly," said Jacqueline
Keaumey Lader, a U.S. Marine and Iraq war veteran who visited the
auditorium last fall with her husband, Don. "It's taken the power away
from the place."
Michael White Sr.'s son, Michael Jr., suffered a
punctured lung and a broken rib and shoulder blade. He ultimately
decided to stay away from the cinema.
"With me, it's like going to a cemetery and walking
across somebody's grave," the older White said. "I think it's
disrespectful to do that."
Mayor Hogan noted that the community grieves and heals in different ways.
"For those who don't want to be there, who can't be
there, I understand and respect that," he said. "For us here, the
larger community if you will, it is part of the healing process."
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