Security Hiked at Theaters Showing Movie ‘Set It Off’

Security is being beefed up outside some theaters showing the crime movie “Set It Off” after Saturday’s fatal shooting outside a crowded Torrance theater.

United Artists Theaters, which owns the Torrance movie house where a man was killed and two teenagers were wounded, said Monday that it plans to increase security at many of its 415 theaters showing the film across the nation. Other theater operators and malls said they have similar plans.

The shooting occurred about 11 p.m. after members of rival gangs began scuffling outside the UA theater at the Del Amo Fashion Center, where the movie was playing on three screens. None of the victims had seen the film, police said.

“It started as a physical altercation but then turned ugly when one of the suspects drew a semiautomatic handgun,” said Torrance Police Sgt. Gil Kranke.

Brandon Stokes, 20, of Gardena, who was hit in the chest, was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he died. Two boys, both 16, were wounded--one in the shoulder and the other in the abdomen. Their names were not released because of their age.

Within hours of the shooting, police arrested Travis Woodard, 18, of Inglewood and a 17-year-old who is suspected of firing the gun. His name was not released. The suspects and victims are believed to be associated with gangs, Kranke said.

Bill Quigley, senior vice president at United Artist Theaters, called the incident “an absolute tragedy.” In addition to increasing security, the theater chain may change the times it shows “Set It Off.”

“Movies don’t cause violence, people do,” Quigley said. “You shouldn’t blame the movie any more than rock ‘n’ roll for the violence at a rock concert or the game of soccer for what breaks out at a soccer game.”

It was the second shooting in less than a week at a theater featuring “Set It Off,” a movie starring rap artist Queen Latifah as one of four female bank robbers.

Wednesday, the day the film opened, three people were injured in the press of bodies at a Pacific Lakewood theater after gunfire erupted, sending patrons ducking for cover.

Sheriff’s deputies have increased security at the Lakewood and report no subsequent problems.

Deputies are looking for the gunman, who fired about three shots but hit no one, Lt. Margo Caprini said.

Saturday’s violence in Torrance did not stop moviegoers, who began lining up at the United Artists Del Amo theater early Monday morning.

Although most had seen news reports about the fatal weekend shooting, many were unconcerned about the possibility of violence.

“The way I see it, lightning never strikes twice in the same place,” said Harry Johnson of Inglewood, who attended a matinee show with his wife Christine on Monday. Officials at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, where there have been no incidents related to screenings of “Set It Off,” said they have nonetheless increased security.

“We don’t anticipate any problems, but the occurrence of these problems at the other two theaters does give us reason for concern,” said Alexander Haagen, president of Haagen Properties, which owns and operates the mall.

Bill Kartozian, president of the National Assn. of Theater Owners, a 600-member organization responsible for 16,000 movie screens, said theater owners have become familiar with security measures because films keyed to urban life periodically set off violence.

Increasing security “is something that is pretty much a matter of course,” he said.