Father Recalls Scary Moments Teenager Shot Gel Beads Into Crowded Theater

CREVE COEUR, Mo. – Brian Finder took his 12-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son and his wife, who is seven months pregnant, to see “Inside Out 2” on Saturday. What was supposed to be a normal family outing turned into a terrifying ordeal.

“We noticed a group of three teenagers, I think, sneaking into the movie,” Finder said. “They were clearly not part of the film; Wasn't there all the time. They were jumping in the seats, you know, acting like they weren't really there to see the movie.

“Probably with about 10 minutes left in the film, one of the individuals put on a ski mask (and) pulled out what looked like a long rifle from his backpack. It was colorful, but, you know, in the heat of the moment, we didn't really know what was going on.

Police say someone pulled out a toy gun and began shooting gel pellets at the crowd inside the AMC Theater on Olive Boulevard. Finder said he immediately called the police.

” Everything happened so fast. I’m just glad they were able to catch the child because it was obviously a very terrifying situation,” he said.

Creve Coeur police said they quickly arrested the boy in a nearby parking lot. They recovered the pellet gun and the mask he was wearing. Since the suspect is under the age of 18, St. Louis County Family Court will determine what happens next.

“Whether it's through, you know, punitive actions or maybe even just having to deal with these families that he traumatized, he understands the effect that he had by doing that . I’m not sure there’s a single way to solve the problem,” Finder said. “On the other hand, I think it was definitely eye-opening for me. Just like security measures at the theater. How can this kid bring something like that in a bag into a movie theater full of people? That's what's terrifying to me.

Investigators said no injuries were reported.

FOX 2 has reached out to AMC Theaters for a statement on the incident and is awaiting a response.