Aurora Movie Theater Shooting Site to Reopen
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Thomas Cooper/Getty Images(AURORA, Colo.) — The Aurora, Colo., movie theater where James Holmes allegedly opened fire this summer, killing 12 people and wounding 58, now has an official reopening date.
In a letter dated Dec. 5 sent to Aurora mayor Steve Hogan, Cinemark president and CEO Tim Warner announced the renovated theater will reopen on January 17.
“We would like to host an evening for specially invited invitees,” Warner wrote, “especially those affected by the tragedy of July 20th and those who have done so much for this community.”
Before the multiplex reopens, Cinemark says it will allow victims, families and employees affected by the shooting tragedy to visit the theater on January 15 and 16.
“From January 18th through January 20th, we will, as part of honoring this special community, offer free movies,” Warner said.
Theater 9 — where Holmes allegedly armed himself with an assault rifle, shotgun and handguns at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises — is being renovated into what Cinemark calls an “XD” or “Extreme Digital” theater that will show movies on a large, IMAX-like screen.
Holmes, 24, is in custody and has not yet entered a plea. His attorneys say he suffers from mental illness.
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