AURORA, CO - 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; it's too hard, and too dark to live in that," Hoover said.
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.
"They want to use us as stepping stones to boost ticket sales for the grand reopening to the public," said Jessica Watts.
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.
"I'm not gonna lie: once I got in there, I started crying. I hadn't cried since it happened," said survivor Corbin Dates.
Dates sat directly behind the gunman before the rampage. He 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."
Organizers of the event won't say which movie will be shown tonight. Dates, who usually prefers sci-fi action flicks, hopes it will be a family movie.
Colorado's governor, Aurora's mayor and first responders have also been invited to the ceremony. The theater opens to the public Friday.
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