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Police: Dispute over seats led to fatal shooting inside movie theater

The shooting happened at the Century Rio movie theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Movie theater
Posted at 12:51 PM, Jun 27, 2023

A 19-year-old was arrested after police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said he fatally shot a person at a movie theater in a dispute over seats. 

The shooting happened Sunday at the Century Rio movie theater. 

"Understandably, there was a sense of chaos here," said Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos. "A lot of people running from the theater and trying to get away."

According to a criminal complaint, Enrique Padilla was seated in the theater with another person for the 8:50 p.m. showing of "No Hard Feelings."

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The complaint states that Michael Tenorio and his wife also purchased tickets to see the movie, but their tickets were separated by seats 9 and 10, where Padilla and his date were sitting.

A theater employee reportedly told the Tenorios that they could ask the people in those seats to move down a seat so they could sit together. 

However, that request apparently turned into an argument. It escalated when police said Padilla threw a bucket of popcorn at Tenorio's wife. 

The complaint states that a scuffle ensued and shots were fired. Tenorio was hit and died at the scene. 

Padilla was found outside the theater with a gunshot wound. He was reportedly taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

Upon his release, he will face a murder charge.

The movie theater remains closed.