Argument leads to panicked evacuation from NJ theater, active shooter speculation

An argument and a  person jumping over a chair inside the Multiplex Cinemas in Edgewater led to a panicked evacuation on Saturday night.

Edgewater Police in a statement said a dispute in theater number 3 got heated with raised voices. One person jumped or climbed over chairs and likely fell, creating a loud noise that led to people quickly leaving the theater.

Police said they began to receive calls about people exiting the theater for an unknown reason although one caller speculated there may have been active shooter inside. A number of police, fire and rescue units quickly responded to the theater on River Road and began to sort out what was going on.

Although theater security told them there may be a bomb inside, officers determined that the argument in the theater was possibly a domestic dispute but no mention was made about a bomb or weapon. The theater was given the all clear at 10:21 p.m. Police say one person injured an arm in the rush to exit the theater.

Edgewater Mayor Michael McPartland told ABC 7 he headed straight for the theater when he heard about the incident.

"Everyone is on edge, we are so close to Manhattan. ... This would definitely be a soft target something along the lines of a theater, but the response was good," McPartland said.