Allen first responders drill active-shooter response at Cinemark theater

Allen police officers and firefighters rehearsed an active-shooter response inside Cinemark Allen, turning a familiar movie theater into a loud, chaotic test of how they would move, communicate and reach victims under pressure.

The drill used a movie playing on the screen, simulated screams for help and staged wounded victims to recreate the confusion responders could face in a real mass-casualty event. Allen Police Lt. Darrin Whitman said the goal was to force officers through noise, confusion and split-second decisions. “That just makes them better going into a real scenario,” Whitman said.

Assistant Fire Chief Danny Williams said the lesson from the May 6, 2023 shooting at Allen Premium Outlets was clear: medical help cannot simply rush in when a scene is not secure. The drill was built around that reality, with police and fire crews practicing how to coordinate once officers enter first and how medical teams follow when the area is safe enough for treatment and evacuation.

The setting mattered. A theater is a crowded indoor space with limited sightlines, dark corners and choke points around aisles, exits and seating sections, all of which can slow movement in an emergency. For families in Allen and across Collin County, the practical takeaway is the same in a theater, mall or other packed venue: know the exits, stay alert to instructions from first responders, and move quickly away from danger if an attack or other violent threat develops.

The training came just days before the third anniversary of the outlet mall attack that killed eight people and wounded seven others. Local summaries sometimes count nine deaths when the gunman is included. An officer already at the mall on an unrelated call heard gunfire, engaged the suspect and stopped the attack. The victims included Aishwarya Thatikonda, Kyu Cho, Cindy Cho, James Cho, Daniela Mendoza, Sofia Mendoza, Christian LaCour, Elio Cumana-Rivas and Mauricio Garcia.

Allen’s response to the tragedy has included a fire-department post-incident analysis, continued counseling support for victims, the wounded and first responders, and a permanent memorial at Allen Premium Outlets with eight wind chimes, one for each victim. A citywide moment of silence was held at 3:36 p.m. on May 6, 2024, the exact time the first shots rang out, and a remembrance event included the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Allen High School choir.

For Allen, the Cinemark drill was not just a training exercise. It was another sign that the city’s first responders are still reshaping their response playbook around the lessons of one of Collin County’s darkest days.