Apr 10, 2019 2 min read

On March 23, the NAACP learned a shooting occurred at Regal Cinemas in Washington Crown Center. A group of six African American youth went to the theater to watch the movie ”Us.” An eyewitness told a Pittsburgh television news station that the teens were laughing at funny parts of the movie and making comments, though they weren’t loud enough to be disruptive. The witness indicated that a middle-aged white man who had brought a gun to the movie got out of his seat and approached the teens, using profanity. He was screaming in their faces, and after that, they started fighting. The shooting occurred when the adult male pulled out a firearm, a struggle began, and the firearm discharged, striking one of the juveniles in the leg. Shortly after, police came and took statements from everyone involved, but the adult male, whose actions started all of this, was not taken into custody. The adult and the teenager who was shot were treated at a hospital. The Washington County District Attorney will decide if charges will be filed.

The NAACP is concerned that a middle-aged white man brought a gun into a movie theater, shot an unarmed teenager and was not arrested. Can you imagine what they would have done if a black man did the same thing to a white teenager? Members of the black community in Washington are not asking for any special consideration. All that we are seeking is equal treatment under the law. We know it takes time to conduct a thorough investigation, but some are becoming frustrated by the lack of an arrest and no transparency.

There has not been any violence as a result of this frustration, but the fact that rallies have been held outside of the theater and the Washington County Courthouse is a sign of growing unrest. The City of Washington is indeed fortunate that no one was killed at the theater. We are all hoping that justice will prevail.

Andrew Goudy

President, Washington Branch NAACP