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Harvard researcher says he was attacked by teens he asked to shush during movie at Boston theater
Police are looking to identify five teens accused of beating a fellow moviegoer at a screening of “Weapons” last week.
Boston police are asking for the public’s help identifying five teenagers accused of attacking a man during a late-night screening at a downtown movie theater last week.
The incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. Aug. 14 during a showing of the horror movie “Weapons” at AMC Boston Common 19, according to a Boston Police Department report. The man was left with a bloodied face and minor injury to his nose following the alleged assault, officers noted.
While the man’s name is redacted from the police report, he was identified by multiple news outlets as 35-year-old Thiago Rentz, a Harvard researcher from Brazil. Boston.com has contacted Rentz for comment.
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He told NBC10 Boston he was attacked after asking the teens to quiet down in the theater.
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“They were there disturbing all of the people, clapping and screaming all the time,” he told the news outlet. “I asked them for respect. I asked them to leave the theater because we just wanted to watch the movie.”
According to WBZ, Rentz sought out a manager after asking the group to quiet down multiple times, though he said AMC staff never addressed the situation.
Rentz alleged the teens wouldn’t let him leave the theater after the movie ended, ganging up on him and forming a wall to block his path. While Rentz’s friend screamed for help, the teens “just punched me,” he told NBC10. “I didn’t fight back. I was, like, scared and then I just faced the wall, and I just protected my face and my head.”
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The teens eventually ran off, and officers responded to the theater around 12:43 a.m., according to the police report. An officer attempted to speak to AMC staff but found the theater’s doors locked. Rentz was evaluated by Boston EMS but declined a ride to the hospital for further care, per the report.
“The safety of our guests and associates is our top priority. We have communicated with the guest, and we are complying with all requests from local law enforcement to help identify those involved,” AMC said in a statement. “Violence of any kind at our theatres is unacceptable. Anyone identified to have taken part in this incident will be permanently banned from AMC.”
According to Boston police, which released photos of the suspects, the teens are described as Black males, all of medium height and thin build. The police report puts their ages between 16 and 17 years old.
The incident remains under investigation, and Boston police urged anyone with information to contact detectives at 617-343-4571. Community members can also provide anonymous tips by calling 1-800-494-TIPS (8477), texting the word “TIP” to “CRIME” (27463), or visiting the Boston Police CrimeStoppers website.
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