Violence Mars Opening of Murphy Film at 3 Theaters

Violence broke out at three Los Angeles-area theaters on opening night of comedian Eddie Murphy’s concert movie, “Raw,” leaving one man shot to death and a second man injured with knife wounds and resulting in the arrests of four USC football players, police said Saturday.

Authorities said the movie itself, apparently had nothing to do with the violence.

Sheriff’s deputies said a 21-year-old Compton man died late Friday after being shot in the chest during a fight at the snack bar of the Rosecrans Drive-In Theater in Paramount, where “Raw” was showing.

The assailant disappeared into the crowd and is being sought by police.

Meanwhile, a Pasadena man was in fair condition Saturday after he was stabbed when 60 moviegoers began fighting at the Mann Huntington Oaks Theater in Monrovia on Friday night in what police said was a gang-related incident.

And in Westwood, police said 1,500 people became involved in a post-midnight fracas at the Mann Village Theater.

Police said the theater operators had stopped a showing of “Raw” because the crowd was unruly, and scores of angry moviegoers streamed out onto the sidewalks and into the streets, disrupting traffic.

Two dozen Los Angeles and UCLA police officers were called to the scene, but more scuffles erupted after ticket-holders waiting in line were told that the late show was also being canceled, police said.

Police arrested Eugene Arrington, 22, a USC reserve wide receiver, for investigation of battery on a police officer, alleging that he scratched an officer’s leg. He was held overnight and later released on $1,000 bail.

Three other USC players and one UCLA student were charged with unlawful assembly and were released on their own recognizance. The players were identified as Randy Tanner, 21, starting senior flanker; Tracy Butts, 21, a defensive back, and Carl (Reggie) Smith, 19, also a defensive back.

The UCLA student was identified as Ronald Medina, 19.

USC Head Coach Larry Smith, whose team is bound for a Rose Bowl matchup with Michigan State on Jan. 1, said he is investigating the incident but does not consider the matter serious after talking to each of the players.

“In the confusion of clearing out about 1,500 people and the subsequent distribution of refunds, for some reason our players were among those singled out for unlawful assembly,” Smith said. “One (Arrington) was pushed to the ground, and he told me that he accidentally fell into a police officer.”

Police said none of the violent episodes appeared to be touched off by the movie itself, an obscenity-laced stage routine that opened Friday to mixed reviews.

Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Cox said the shooting death in Paramount “was sheer coincidence” and occurred after two men got into a fistfight about 9:30 p.m. at the drive-in theater’s snack bar.

One man pulled out a gun, shot the victim once at close range, and disappeared into the crowd that had gathered to watch the fight, Cox said.

The victim, Raymond Espinoza, died a little more than an hour later at Charter Suburban Hospital in Paramount.

Rival Gangs at Show

Monrovia police attributed the theater violence there to rival gangs who were both attending the same showing of “Raw.”

Lt. Patrick Hardy said about 60 people believed to be gang members began fighting in the theater about 8:30 p.m., moving later to the lobby and finally to a parking lot, where the violence escalated.

The injured man, Emanuel Mallet, 27, was knifed during the fighting outside the theater, but he did not appear to be a gang member, according to Hardy.

Mallet was treated at Huntington Memorial Hospital for stab wounds to his chest.

Hardy said the Monrovia crowd continued fighting, even after about 20 officers arrived on the scene. One man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he pointed a handgun at the crowd. He was identified as Timothy Norwood, 20, of Altadena.

Two teen-age boys were also arrested for investigation of fighting and failure to disperse.

Times staff writer Mal Florence contributed to this article.