11 people treated after accidental exposure to pepper spray at Destiny USA movie theater, one taken to hospital

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, Syracuse firefighters were called to an odor/fume investigation at Destiny USA.

911 dispatchers then told firefighters while they were en route to the mall that an unknown substance had caused several people to start coughing in one of the movie theaters, SFD said.

Firefighters and police who responded found that a pepper spray-like substance had accidentally been released in one of the theaters.

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Roughly 40 people were in the theater when the exposure happened, and 11 people were evaluated at the scene, according to SFD.

People were suffering from eye and respiratory irritation, symptoms that are consistent with pepper spray exposure.

10 people who were treated at the scene did not need any further care, but one person was taken by AMR to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Firefighters used air monitoring equipment to make sure there were no further hazards, and the theater was shut down for cleaning.

There was no danger to any other theaters or any other patrons at the mall, SFD said.

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