Dallas ‘Platoon’ Viewer Fires Tear Gas Spray

A woman viewer interrupted a showing of the movie “Platoon,” yelling about the Vietnam War and hitting three people with tear gas spray, police said.

The crowd of 1,400 at the Northpark Theater dove for cover Saturday when someone cried out that the woman had a gun. The weapon turned out to be the can of tear gas spray, police said.

Lilia Charters, 32, was charged with misdemeanor assault, said Officer Robert McLeod. Her husband, Billy Charters, 50, was charged with disorderly conduct after he tried to prevent officers from arresting his wife, McLeod said. Lilia Charters was placed in Parkland Memorial Hospital’s psychiatric ward after her arrest, officials said.

“People were running out in a panic,” doorman Scott Spenser said. “I was scared to death.” No injuries were reported.

Theatergoers said Lilia Charters had been shouting throughout the movie, apparently irate at the actions of American soldiers fighting the Viet Cong in the movie about the Vietnam War.