Patrons sue after fake shootout prompts panic

Wednesday, March 1, 2000 | 12:15 p.m.

Promoters say it was just a stunt to plug the movie "Wild Wild West."

But some patrons who were caught in the middle of a fake gunfight at a Las Vegas theater in July say it was no laughing matter.

Nine people have filed suit against the Rancho Santa Fe movie theater, saying they were terrorized and injured in a melee resulting from the stunt.

The plaintiffs contend customers were given no notice of the mock shootout. The resulting terror prompted patrons to hide in empty theaters, scale walls and hide under vehicles, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in state District Court.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to the scene on multiple calls of shots being fired.

"Individuals were heard on 911 tape to believe themselves to be in danger of being killed and begged for immediate assistance," according to the lawsuit.

The nine plaintiffs claim they were hurt in the melee. A 71-year-old woman said she was knocked down and trampled. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages in excess of $40,000.

According to a police report, theater managers said they hired men to dress as cowboys and stage a mock gunfight outside the theater as patrons left the building. The stunt was designed to promote the release of "Wild Wild West," which stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline.

According to a police report, the first customers to leave the theater saw the actors. Those still inside heard shots fired.

Witnesses told police patrons were screaming "There's people being shot," and "Run. Get down."

"Multiple victims began to run through the theaters, through other movies and out the back door, causing a panic where people were knocked down and people were becoming hysterical," according to the police report.

Management officials told police that employees handed out fliers informing patrons of the promotion, but police said they saw no evidence of the fliers.