Families of Colorado theater shooting victims disgusted by invite

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Updated: 1/03 7:23 am
SAN ANTONIO - The families of the 12 people killed in Aurora, Colorado are disgusted over an invitation to reserve seats for the theater's re-opening.

Jessica Ghawi’s mother Sandy Phillips was shocked when she opened her email just two days after Christmas and received an invite from Cinemark to the re-opening of the Century Aurora Theater. The email invite said it would be a special evening of remembrance on January 17th followed by a movie. It also stated there would be counselors available at the event.

Sandy says after a heartbreaking Christmas without her daughter the timing was awful. She says not even an apology for what she calls "bad taste" will fix this.

Phillips said, “Extremely bad taste if nothing else. I don't think there's anything they can do. They've done the damage and they continue to cause damage. Cinemark theater never once asked us about re-opening or re-doing the theater.”

Since then Ghawi's parents and families to the 12 other people killed have written a letter to Cinemark to express how the feel. They stated Cinemark showed zero compassion to the victims families.

Cinemark has not made a comment.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

Texann - 1/4/2013 9:35 AM
2 Votes
I certainly feel for these folks and don't know what the answer is, but they've just about worn out their 15 minutes of fame.

soulfree48 - 1/3/2013 1:26 PM
6 Votes
I feel bad for these families loss but I think it is wrong for them to blame the theatre. its like anything can happen to anyone of us in any moment but the only responsible person here is the shooter, not the bystanders nor the business where it happened even the shooters families are not responsible. my opinion is this particular parent reacted in the wrong way. I mean I can try to understand her sadness during the holidays but being angry at the theatre is going to help her to heal.

catwalk0826 - 1/3/2013 11:21 AM
7 Votes
As I listened to this story on the news this A.M. I was surprised the family put blame on the movie theater. I was also surprised they kept the business closed this long. PUT BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS....THE NUT CASE THAT DID THIS!!!

Carmelos - 1/3/2013 10:55 AM
6 Votes
The cinema was doomed either way, if they had of re-opened without this opening night offering they would have been bashed just as hard by the families as well. They understandably would probably prefer that it be torn down or turned into a memorial of some type.

Jimkata - 1/3/2013 10:45 AM
9 Votes
Did the families expect the cinema to stay closed forever? To me the memorial ceremony sounded like a good idea. I know the families have been hurt, but I don't see how the cinema is at fault.

Butterface - 1/3/2013 10:38 AM
1 Vote
The disconnection between humanity and business.
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