The NYPD is stepping up security at city theaters showing "The Dark Knight Rises" as a precaution in the wake of a mass shooting at a movie theater in suburban Colorado that killed at least a dozen people and left scores of others wounded.
"As a precaution against copycats and to raise the comfort levels among movie patrons in the wake of the horrendous shooting in Colorado, the New York City Police Department is providing coverage at theaters where the 'The Dark Knight Rises' is playing in the five boroughs," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said in a statement.
Kelly said at least two police officers would be stationed at each of the 40 city theaters showing the new Batman movie.
Nassau County police said they would have "intensive" additional patrols around movie theaters showing "The Dark Knight Rises." Emergency service units, K-9 teams and special operations units will join the patrols.
The daytime manager at United Artists/Regal Cinema in Brooklyn told NBC 4 New York that the NYPD has been in contact with her and planned to place patrols in the area.
Brooklyn resident Frank Ballance, who had tickets for the noon showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at the cinema on Court Street said he saw two undercover officers walking around the grounds. He also said he hoped potential copycats stayed away from the city.
On Saturday, moviegoers outside a theater in Times Square were lined up to see "The Dark Knight Rises," undeterred by the tragedy.
"It's a shame what happened yesterday, but I think my focus will be here," said Holly Footman. "I feel safe in New York, and I believe in our police department, but at the same time I gotta believe in myself and I gotta be aware of my surroundings."
Click Here for Full Coverage of the 'Dark Knight' Massacre in Colorado
Theater No. 9 at a multiplex in Aurora, Colo., was packed with moviegoers just getting into a midnight screening of the newest Batman film when a man clad in black wearing a gas mask burst through the door.
According to witness reports, the man threw a canister that erupted in smoke before opening fire indiscriminately on the crowd. The suspected shooter is in custody. He's been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, a PhD student in the University of Colorado's neurosciences program who lives in Aurora. No motive has been given for the mass shooting.
Federal officials said the shooter brought four weapons to the movie theater and authorities are working to track the purchase places and dates for the guns. Two of the weapons were Glock handguns. The other two were a Remington model 870 shotgun and a Smith and Wesson assault rifle.
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