Edina Police Working to Prevent Any 'Dark Knight Rises' Copycat Incidents

In the wake of a tragic shooting during a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" at a suburban Denver theater Friday, local officials are taking precautions to ensure nothing similar happens in Edina.

According to the Associated Press, a gunman threw a tear gas canister into a midnight showing of the new film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, CO, before opening fire on the crowd. Police report 71 people were shot in total, with 12 people killed during the shooting.

Police have arrested James Holmes, a 24-year-old graduate student whose apartment four miles away was also booby trapped. Holmes reportedly wore body armor during the attack, using an assault rifle, shotgun and a Glock handgun.

Chief Jeff Long said tragic incidents like this shooting "tend to be isolated and not widespread," though he admitted you can never predict when someone might attempt a copycat incident.

"As with any tragedy that occurs, we will be taking measures to asses our risk of a similar event and deploy our resources accordingly," Long said. "Part of our risk assessment has been contacting our theater that is showing the Batman movie to ensure we are working together to keep all visitors safe."

Representatives with echoed Long's comments Friday, saying AMC is working with local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation and to ensure the safety of moviegoers.

"We are reaching out to all of our theatres to review our safety and security procedures," they wrote on their Facebook page. "Being a safe place in the community for all our guests is a top priority at AMC and we take that responsibility very seriously."

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