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Colorado theater set to re-open after mass shooting

Posted at 6:45 PM, Jan 17, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-18 03:49:38-05

(WTVR) - Six months after a gunman killed 12 people and injured dozens more inside a Colorado movie theater, the multiplex is reopening tonight.

There will be a ceremony for survivors, victim's family members, and officials.

Dave Hoover received an invitation to the private reopening of the Aurora movie theater. But he's not going.

His nephew AJ was killed in the massacre six months ago. Hoover does not want to go back.
"I can't live in that theater anymore," Hoover said, "It's too hard, and too dark to live in that."

Cinemark, the company that owns the multiplex, will hold a remembrance ceremony and movie screening for survivors and family members of those who died in the shooting. .

But most of those who lost loved ones in the attack are boycotting the event.

Jessica Watts, one of the victims cousins said "they want to use us as stepping stones to boost ticket sales for the grand reopening to the public."

The movie complex, renamed Century Aurora has undergone a million dollar renovation.

The theater where the shooting happened now has a new screen, seats, and carpeting.  But for those who were there last July, the memories are still fresh.

Corbin Dates a shooting survivor said, "I'm not gonna lie: once I got in there, I started crying." Dates continued, "I hadn't cried since it happened."

Corbin Dates sat directly behind the gunman before the rampage.

Dates was given a tour of the newly remodeled theater. He is going to the reopening because he also has happier memories.

"I myself had my first kiss behind the theater so, if they tore it down a part of my history would be gone." said Dates.

Organizers of the event won't say which movie will be shown tonight.