Man charged with threatening moviegoers at North Shore theater

A 34-year-old Lynn man was arrested over the weekend and is facing charges for allegedly threatening to shoot moviegoers at a North Shore theater.

Ryan Muldoon is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace and threatening to commit a crime.

Police responded to the AMC Theater at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers around 3 p.m. Sunday on a report that a man, later identified by police as Muldoon, was threatening to “shoot up the place,” according to court documents. . At the scene, Danvers officers spoke with a theater employee who told them that two women reported to staff that a man sitting behind them had threatened to shoot up the theater.

With the help of theater staff, officers located Muldoon and he was taken into custody. He was not carrying a weapon and told officers that the women were “hitting him” and denied making threats, according to police.

The victims later told police that shortly after they sat down in the hall, they heard Muldoon say behind them, “I’m going to shoot you all in the head.”

After reporting the incident, the women left the area because they did not feel safe, police said.

Muldoon pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday.

According to WCVB, Muldoon’s attorney, Heather Ramsey, denied the allegations against him during his arraignment.

“There is no assault and no dangerous weapon,” said defense attorney Ramsey. “There is an allegation of threats, but there is no indication that they were even directed at these individuals. He didn’t go up to them and sit behind them, they came and sat in front of him. There is simply not enough information to determine the likely cause.”

Muldoon was held without bail pending a danger hearing Tuesday. Ramsey did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday evening.