The owners of Goodrich Capital 8 Theaters in Jefferson City, Missouri, thought greeting Iron Man 3 audiences with people holding fake guns was a good idea.
The theater had a group of cosplayers dressed like members of S.H.I.E.L.D., the ficitious military branch featured in the movie.
The publicity stunt, though, went sour when customers panicked fearing a James Holmes copycat was storming the theater.
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Several called the police, reporting seeing "a man in full assault gear, carrying what appeared to be a modified M-4 and 9 mm on his side."
ABC 17 interviewed Captain Doug Shoemaker, who was incredibly critical of the theater's decision:
"We received a series of 911 calls stating that a man dressed in all black and body armor and a rifle was walking into Capital 8 Theaters," said Capt. Doug Shoemaker.
Officers thought they were responding to an active shooter investigation.
"Everything was in place, it's the opening night of a superhero movie, it's somebody walking in all-dark clothes, everything pointed to bad things about to happen," said Shoemaker. "There's really no good that can come of this."
Bob Wilkins, the theater's manager, said that only a few moviegoers were upset by the stunt and that hundreds were entertained.
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