Community Corner

Cops: Attorney With Loaded Gun Arrested at 'The Dark Knight Rises' Showing

Witnesses reported a gun was exposed, tucked in the waistband of the New Haven lawyer.

A New Haven attorney was arrested Tuesday night after he allegedly brought a loaded handgun into a New Haven movie theater showing the Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises."   

Sung-Ho Hwang, 46, an attorney at the Law Offices of Sung-Ho Hwang, LLC and an officer with the New Haven Bar Association, was charged with breach of peace and interfering with police.

Hwang, who holds a valid Connecticut gun permit, was not charged with any gun offenses.

At 10:11 p.m. Tuesday, New Haven Police were called to the Criterion - Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St. after theater management reported that there was a man inside one of the theaters with a handgun.

Officers arrived within minutes and were given the suspect's description. An usher told them that at least three patrons had said the armed man was inside, but it was unclear which theater he was in.

The patrons said that the suspect had a gun in his waistband on his back and it was not concealed.

Theater 2, featuring the film "The Watch," was searched by the first arriving officers, who then moved to Theater 1, which had about a dozen patrons inside. The Batman film, 'The Dark Knight Rises' was featured there and had not yet begun to play.

The theater house lights were illuminated as officers entered, according to reports, and patrons were told to raise their hands and file from the theater. As they exited, they were patted down and escorted outside.

Officers identified the suspect and with weapons drawn, ordered him to put his hands up. He allegedly remained in his seat while using his cell phone and did not comply with the officers' commands, and was taken into custody by force. Officers allegedly removed a loaded handgun from the suspect's waistband at the small of his back.

Theatergoers who were viewing the 10:20 p.m. screening of "The Watch" described Hwang as wearing a v-neck shirt and jeans.

"Some guy had a gun showing under his belt," one said. "He was walking behind us."

When the man walked past the theatergoers, they saw he had a gun tucked into the back of his pants. They believed he was not on his way into "The Watch."

"We talked to each other and then we talked to the manager [of the theatre]," said one of the theatergoers.

Attorney Scott McMillan of San Diego left a screening of the movie "Ted" with his family at approximately 12 a.m. McMillan was not aware of the incident, but said he "felt safe" knowing that the alleged armed man had a permit."


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