<P> The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex ( operated by Cinemark ) , located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue . Police said Holmes bought a ticket , entered the theater , and sat in the front row . About 20 minutes into the film , he left theater 9 through an emergency exit door beside the movie screen , with direct access to the lightly used parking area at the back of the complex , while propping the door slightly open with a plastic tablecloth holder . There were about 400 people inside theater 9 . </P>
what theater number was the aurora shooting in
9