While Southeast Texans headed to watch the new Batman movie Friday night, many told us they are on alert after the mass shooting at a Colorado theater.
Standing in line for Batman with his son to escape in a movie for a while, Roy Gonzalez doesn't forget the reality of the Colorado Shooting.
"It definitely hit home for us," said Gonzalez.
It's an unexpected tragedy that has movie goers even here in Southeast Texas watching their backs and parents keeping kids close.
"It's awful. It's awful. We never go anywhere without kids and we never let them go alone," said Gonzalez.
"Definitely. you're completely unprotected if you think about it if someone decides to do something like that. I mean, It's kind of scary," said Kellen Haynes.
While broad crowds can make it difficult to set up security check points, cinemas say they are adding security, but wouldn't say how much.
Normally, two to three security guards are there. One or more police officers are hired to patrol on weekends and even more when big crowds are expected.
"We train for this contingency," said Sgt. Rob Flores with the Beaumont Police Department. "So I have no doubt if something like this happened anywhere in the state of Texas we all respond accordingly."
Police say people need to learn to be aware at all times.
With technology right in their hands, many people during the Colorado shooting recorded the video on their cell phones, and police say that's not a safe thing to do.
"If there are shots fired, any kind of threat, its your job to act get up and act," said Sgt. Flores.
Gonzalez says he is ready to act for his sons safety.
"We want to keep them our children as much as we can."
Police say they do know the movie times, and when the big crowds are expected, they will be patrolling.
