Man Makes Terror Threat Inside Long Island Movie Theater: Police

DEER PARK, NY — A man was arrested and charged on Friday night after he threatened people with a gun at a Deer Park movie theater on Friday, Suffolk County Police said.

Luis Perez, 55, of Bay Shore, was charged with making a terroristic threat, police said.

According to police, Perez was inside Theater 10 of Regal Deer Park & IMAX at Tanger Outlets, located at 1050 The Arches Circle at 11:04 p.m. when he put a ski mask on and told minors sitting behind him that he had a gun, police said.

He allegedly proceeded to put his hands in his pockets, causing people to panic and run out the exit doors, police said.

An off-duty Lloyd Harbor police officer, who had been in the same theater, detained the man until security arrived, police said.

All patrons and staff were removed from the theater safely, police said. K-9 section officers searched all theaters, trash receptacles, and public restrooms; no weapons were found, police said.

Perez was held overnight at the First Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday, police said.