Movie Theater Evacuated After Patrons Mistake Fireworks For Gunshots

A movie theater in New Jersey was evacuated after patrons heard a series of loud explosions outside. Police in Howell received numerous 911 calls about shots fired and rushed to the Xscape theater just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday (January 1).

While waiting for the police to arrive, the theater manager realized that the explosions were the result of fireworks that had been set off outside of a nearby business. He confronted the culprit, who explained that he set them off while his friend proposed to his girlfriend.

Police spoke with the man, identified as 23-year-old Nathan Sanders, and determined he did not intend to harm anybody or cause panic inside the theater. He was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct and a fireworks infraction.

"Obviously, this was a very poor decision rather than an overt act," officials wrote on Facebook.

Photo: Howell Police