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Moviegoer Shoots Man For Making Noise In Theater

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The Associated Press

Published: December 27, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - A man enraged by a noisy family sitting near him in a movie theater on Christmas night shot the father of the family in the arm, police said.

James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia, told the man's family to be quiet, then threw popcorn at the man's son, police said. The victim told police that Cialella was walking toward his family when he stood up and was shot.

Detectives called to the United Artists Riverview Stadium theater in South Philadelphia found Cialella carrying the weapon, a .380-caliber handgun, in his waistband, police said.

Cialella faces six charges that include attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remained in custody Saturday. Police said bail had been set, but they did not know the amount.

Lt. Frank Vanore called the incident "scary that it gets to that level of violence from being too noisy during a movie."

Vanore said the 31-year-old victim from suburban Yeadon was hospitalized in stable condition after the shooting. His name had not been released.

It was not immediately known whether Cialella had a lawyer. A woman who answered a call to Cialella's home number Saturday declined to comment.

A theater manager referred calls to Regal Entertainment Group spokesman Dick Westerling, who did not immediately return a phone message Saturday.

Police could not confirm what movie was playing in the theater, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that it was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

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