Phoenix Theatres, JPD issues statement regarding incident at Empire 8
JACKSON, Tenn. — Phoenix Theatres has issued a statement in relation to the incident that happened at Empire 8 earlier this week.
“Phoenix Theatres Entertainment, LLC has reviewed the incident that occurred at the Empire 8 Theatre earlier this week involving a group of children attending with a local daycare.
After reviewing the incident, we recognize that our on-site manager made an error in judgment in asking the entire group to leave. We take responsibility for that.
We reached out to the daycare immediately, issued a full refund, and have arranged a private rescheduled showing with concessions at no charge. Our priority is always to provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for every guest who walks through our doors.
Prior to the mayor of the City of Jackson becoming involved, we had already reached out to the daycare and issued a full refund along with arranging a private rescheduled showing with concessions at no charge. Our priority is always to provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for every guest who walks through our doors.
We appreciate our community, and we look forward to serving families throughout the holiday season.”
Gracie’s Baby Daycare in Jackson scheduled a field trip to Empire 8 movie theater around 7:30 Tuesday night for a showing of Zootopia 2. Chaperones with the group said there were issues when the theater staff said they did not have enough to provide all the children with the snack packs.
The incident escalated to where the movie theatre manager called Jackson Police Department and officers arrived at the movie theatre and made the group leave the theatre.
On Thursday, Jackson City Mayor Scott Conger issued a statement regarding the incident to where he said he has been working with the daycare to ensure the children are able to see the movie.
“What should have been a fun night for our kids turned into something they didn’t understand or deserve. A daycare trip to see Zootopia 2 ended with frightened children and parents being escorted out of the theater over an issue that should have been handled between adults.
The kids had no part in it, and they shouldn’t have been the ones to pay the price. I reached out yesterday to the owner of Gracie’s Baby Daycare, and we’re already working on a solution that puts the focus back on the children. We are working out the details, but we will be setting up a private screening for the kids, with their refreshments covered, so they actually get to enjoy the movie they were excited about.
The complaints and investigations tied to the incident are still ongoing, and this effort has nothing to do with that process. This is simply about making sure the children aren’t punished for the actions of adults,” said Conger.
Jackson Police Department response:
The Jackson Police Department is currently investigating a citizen’s complaint regarding our response to an incident at the Empire Theater in Jackson, Tennessee. We want to acknowledge the concerns shared by members of our community, and we understand the sensitivity surrounding this situation.
At this time, we can share the following preliminary information:
On December 9, 2025, officers responded to the Empire Theater at 1511 Vann Drive after receiving a call requesting police assistance. The caller reported a large disturbance involving approximately 30 people, including the manager and teenage employees, and advised that multiple officers might be needed due to the size of the crowd.
When officers arrived and spoke with theater management, they were informed that a large group had been asked to leave and was refusing to do so. Management stated that while the group included many juveniles who were not causing problems, it was several adults who were being disruptive. Management requested that these individuals be trespassed from the property.
Regardless of the circumstances that led property owners to request removal of individuals, our officers are obligated to respond, assist, and maintain order. In this incident, officers acted in accordance with procedure and legal requirements. Officers entered the movie theater at the direction of management while the movie was still in progress. Because the theater was dark, officers used their flashlights to see, and instructed customers to exit the auditorium. They escorted the adults—identified as the individuals causing the disturbance—off the property. These adults also had young children with them.
“We acknowledge that this incident was unfortunate due to the presence of children. We want to remind the public that professionalism and serving with courtesy are core values of the Jackson Police Department. We hold ourselves to a high standard and expect accountability from all personnel,” said Chief Thom Corley. “If it is determined that any officer involved failed to meet the standards of our department, it will be addressed immediately. We will use this incident as a learning opportunity for our department as a whole.”
We are currently in the process of redacting the faces of the minors involved in our body-worn camera footage. This process is both technical and time-consuming, but once completed, we anticipate releasing the video at the completion of our internal process.
The Jackson Police Department remains committed to transparency, building public trust, and continually striving for improvement.
No further statements will be issued until the internal review process is complete.
We will continue to update you on air and online as we learn more about the incident.
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