Burnsville Police Step Up Presence Near Movie Theater in Wake 'Dark Knight' Shootings in Colorado

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

Local authorities will be on alert tonight, as the nation reacts to one of the worst mass shooting in its history.

So far, Burnsville's movie theater has not requested additional police presence inside the , said Sgt. Dave Zerwas, but the PD will have extra patrols in the area.

"We have requested officers to make their presence very well known there. That's our general response any time anything like that happens in a community that is similar to ours," Zerwas said.

The community in question is Aurora, CO—a suburb of Denver which became scene of mass murder and mayhem after 24-year-old suspect James Holmes allegedly stormed a midnight premier of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" and unloaded four weapons' full of ammunition into the packed movie house. So far, 12 people have died and over 50 are reportedly injured.

Paragon Spokesperson Niki Wilson said that the theater will search large bags or backpacks, but that otherwise the company has confidence in existing security measures.

"We've always had security measures in place and this allowed us to revisit them make sure our staff has heightened awareness of the situation," Wilson said. 

Other chains have publicly announced their intention to implement heightened internal security safeguards.

"We’re reinforcing our security procedures with our theatre teams, which we cannot discuss in detail for obvious, safety reasons," officials at AMC wrote on the company's Facebook page. "At this time, our show schedules circuit-wide will not change. We will not allow any guests into our theatres in costumes that make other guests feel uncomfortable and we will not permit face-covering masks or fake weapons inside our buildings."

Whatever the case may be at Paragon, Zerwas counseled movie goers to be aware of their surroundings and avoid wearing costumes.

"People would be on edge and we wouldn't want anyone to be on the receiving end of a mistaken identity case," Zerwas said. "And if you see something, say something. Don't assume it's nothing. Call 911 regardless and have the police check it out."

Demand for the movie has not dropped off, in spite of the ghastly events of last night.

"People are still coming to the showings. They're eager to see the film," Wilson said.