Matthew Ware, a 34-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was arrested and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after he allegedly pepper-sprayed another patron at a Burbank movie theater. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 inside the AMC Burbank 16, according to the Burbank Police Department.
Los Angeles Man Arrested After Pepper-Spraying Moviegoer
Investigators stated that Ware became upset with a fellow moviegoer who was using a cellphone during a screening of the film “The Uprising.” According to witness Joe Rodriguez, the confrontation began when Ware asked the other man to turn off his phone. Rodriguez reported that the man, who was scrolling with his screen brightness turned down, refused the request. Shortly after, Rodriguez heard the sound of an aerosol can and a man yelling, I just got pepper sprayed. This guy just pepper sprayed me,
as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Injuries and Emergency Response
The deployment of the spray affected multiple people in the theater. In addition to the primary target, police said the pepper spray caught two other moviegoers. Paramedics were called to the scene because at least three people reported adverse effects. The man targeted by Ware and the two other affected patrons were taken to a local hospital for treatment of irritation.
Following the attack, Ware allegedly fled the theater. Rodriguez noted that the victim and two others ran out to seek help from employees, while three other moviegoers chased Ware. Police eventually located the suspect in the theater lobby and took him into custody. A photo of the arrest shared on Reddit showed Ware wearing a T-shirt featuring the 2016 slasher film “Terrifier.”
Legal Outcome and Theater Response
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Information Center, Ware was cited for misdemeanor battery and released at 7:22 a.m. on Wednesday. When contacted by CBS LA for his side of the incident, Ware declined to comment and hung up.
The theater responded to the disruption by offering to refund the tickets of everyone present. One witness noted on Reddit that the movie did not stop until 15 minutes after the altercation occurred. The film “The Uprising,” which stars actor Andrew Garfield, currently holds a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Public Reaction and Social Media Debate
The incident sparked significant debate online after photos and accounts were shared on Reddit and Instagram. A post by Save Your Cinema regarding the event garnered over 55,000 likes, with some social media users praising Ware’s actions as a response to aggravating theater behavior. One user commented that the person on the phone deserved it,
though others expressed sympathy for the bystanders hit by the overspray.
Rodriguez, who sat in the row directly in front of the altercation, told NBC News that the event did not appear to be an act of self-defense. He noted that Ware mentioned the victim got smart
with him, concluding that Ware was simply a frustrated individual who lashed out because a guy was being rude at the movies.
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