Thread: Officer shoots suspect in San Diego movie theater

Officer shoots suspect in San Diego movie theater

The Associated PressAssociated Press
Created: 01/12/2013 05:05:28 PM PST

SAN DIEGO—A San Diego police officer has shot and critically injured an armed man in a movie theater.

Officer David Stafford said police went to Reading Cinemas Carmel Mountain 12 in response to a domestic violence call Saturday afternoon.

Stafford said the roughly 3:50 p.m. shooting occurred inside a theater. The officer was not hurt.

No other details were immediately released.

A San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatcher said the suspect was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. U-T San Diego reports (Officers shoot suspect in movie theater | UTSanDiego.com) witnesses were evacuated from the theater.

http://www.times-standard.com/statenews/ci_22362868/officer-shoots-suspect-san-diego-movie-theater

Suspected theater gunman enters plea

By Kristina Davis2:27 p.m.Jan. 16, 2013



ESCONDIDO — An armed domestic violence suspect who was shot by a police officer in a Carmel Mountain movie theater pleaded not guilty to several counts of assault with a firearm Wednesday during a bedside arraignment at a hospital.

Tom Billodeaux, 22, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all charges — three counts of assault with a firearm and one count each of threats with a firearm and assault on a peace officer with a firearm. Superior Court Judge Richard Mills set his bail at $2 million.

Billodeaux lay in his hospital bed at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido during the hearing, which was also attended by two family members. He appeared to follow the proceedings closely but remained silent besides a faint “yes” to a judge’s question about waiving the right to a speedy trial. The judge did not allow news cameras in the hospital room.

Public defender Dan Segura did not elaborate on the extent of Billodeaux’s injuries but said he was unable to use his right hand.

“He has undergone a lot of surgery. We are not sure what his prognosis will be or how long before he will be released from the hospital,” Segura said.

San Diego police said the Escondido man attacked his 19-year-old girlfriend in a shopping center parking lot on Saturday afternoon and threatened her and bystanders with a gun before running into a neighboring plaza. Police locked down the area and searched for the gunman.

Moviegoers spotted him in a showing of “Lincoln” at Reading Cinemas Carmel Mountain 12, and police focused their search there. Officer Addam Ansari finally located Billodeaux sitting by himself in another theater that was screening “Les Miserables,” police said.

Billodeaux brought up a handgun when the officer demanded he show his hands, and the officer opened fire, police said.

Billodeaux was struck in the chest and arm.

About 15 patrons in the theater were not harmed.

During the hearing, the judge signed a protective order for Billodeaux’s girlfriend and the two bystanders who tried to help her.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/16/Suspected-theater-gunman-enters-plea-from-hospital/