Horror movie screening descends into chaos in Argentina after a seat dispute triggers a pepper spray attack.
A routine horror movie screening turned into a chaotic emergency on October 14, when a violent dispute over reserved seating erupted inside a theater in Paraná, Argentina. Approximately 50 moviegoers were watching the horror film Other Mommy, known locally as Mamá Siniestra, at a Las Tipas cinema located inside the Paso del Paraná shopping center.
The altercation began when a group of late-arriving women discovered other patrons occupying their assigned seats. What started as a verbal disagreement quickly escalated into physical violence, involving punches, kicks, and hair-pulling, which ultimately forced a complete evacuation of the entertainment complex, according to information published by dexerto.
As the confrontation intensified, cinema employees attempted to intervene and calm the individuals involved. After roughly 20 minutes of unrest, one of the women involved in the dispute deployed a canister of pepper spray, filling the enclosed screening room with an irritating chemical agent that affected numerous innocent bystanders.
What Happened During the Other Mommy Screening Dispute
Witness Sofía Alberto recounted to local news outlet Elonce that the situation spiraled out of control when one of the women grabbed her friend by the hair. As surrounding patrons stepped in to separate the combatants, the pepper spray was unleashed, causing immediate breathing difficulties and severe eye irritation among the audience.
The hazardous aerosol quickly permeated the auditorium, impacting vulnerable individuals, including children and elderly moviegoers. Argentine outlet TN reported that several attendees required medical attention for respiratory issues, while one woman sustained a head injury that necessitated medical stitches.
Cinema Evacuation and Management Response
Theater management acted swiftly to clear the premises, ordering the immediate evacuation of every screening room in the entire complex. Affected customers were subsequently offered ticket refunds or replacement passes to compensate for the disrupted cinematic experience and health hazards.
Law enforcement officers detained a 51-year-old woman and her 27-year-old daughter in the shopping center parking lot as they attempted to leave the scene. Authorities successfully recovered the pepper spray canister believed to have been utilized during the violent auditorium confrontation.
Legal Consequences for the Suspects
On October 15, a presiding judge enforced strict 30-day legal restrictions preventing the mother and daughter from approaching or contacting the identified victims and their families. This judicial measure remains active while local authorities continue their formal investigation into the disturbing incident.
This unsettling occurrence adds to a growing list of violent cinema disputes worldwide. Similar aggressive incidents have recently surfaced, including a Florida case involving a food-related assault and a California arrest where a moviegoer was pepper-sprayed for using a cellphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the evacuation at the Other Mommy screening?
The cinema evacuation was triggered by a violent physical fight over assigned seats, which escalated when a woman unleashed pepper spray inside the auditorium.
Where did the pepper spray incident take place?
The incident occurred on October 14 at a Las Tipas cinema inside the Paso del Paraná shopping center in Paraná, Argentina, during a screening of Other Mommy.
Were any arrests made following the theater fight?
Yes, police detained a 51-year-old woman and her 27-year-old daughter in the parking lot, and a judge later imposed 30-day restraining orders against them.
Did anyone get injured during the pepper spray attack?
Several moviegoers suffered from breathing difficulties and eye irritation, while one woman sustained a head injury that required medical stitches.
