Man accused of threatening moviegoers at North Shore theater

A 34-year-old Lynn man was arrested over the weekend and is facing charges for allegedly threatening to shoot moviegoers at a North Shore theater.

Ryan Muldoon is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace and threatening to commit a crime.

Police responded to the AMC Theater at Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers around 3 p.m. Sunday for a report that a man, later identified by police as Muldoon, was threatening to “shoot the place up,” according to court documents. At the scene, Danvers officers spoke with a movie theater employee who told them that two women reported to staff that a man sitting behind them had threatened to shoot up the movie theater.

Officers located Muldoon with the assistance of theater staff and he was taken into custody. He did not have a weapon with him and he told officers that the women were “attacking” him and denied making any threats, police said.

The victims later told police that shortly after sitting down in the theater, they heard Muldoon say from behind them, “I’m going to shoot you all in the head.”

After reporting the incident, the women left the area because they did not feel safe, police said.

Muldoon pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment Monday.

Muldoon’s attorney, Heather Ramsey, disputed the charges against him during his arraignment. according to WCVB.

“There is no assault and there is no dangerous weapon,” attorney Ramsey said. “There are allegations of threats, but there is no indication that they were even directed at these individuals. He did not come and sit behind them, they sat in front of him. There just isn’t enough to determine probable cause.”

Muldoon was ordered held without bail pending a dangerous conduct hearing on Tuesday. Ramsey did not immediately return a request for comment Monday evening.