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GREENSBORO - The investigation of a shooting at a packed movie theater in January has slowed because of difficulty establishing a suspect description, police said Wednesday.

On Jan. 16, 32-year-old Clive O'Connor was shot twice in the abdomen inside a packed hallway at the Grand 18 at Four Seasons Station at 2700 Vanstory St. just after 9 p.m. during an argument, police said.

Despite an estimated 700 people who were at the theater at the time, all of which had to be evacuated, police said Thursday that they have not been able to establish a solid suspect description.

"We don't have a description or anything right now," said Capt. Janice Rogers, head of the Greensboro Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division.

"There is no physical description on the person who pulled the trigger, and much of what we have gotten has been second-hand."

Rogers said investigators have reviewed surveillance video and the department has received several leads in the case, but all have run into dead ends.

Complicating matters, she said, was that immediately prior to the shooting, several balloons popped in a bouquet that someone was carrying through a crowded hallway.

"People thought (the gunshots) were that and weren't paying attention," Rogers said.

"It was seconds afterwards until anyone realized what happened."

Beyond the two rounds that struck O'Connor, she said investigators are unsure how many shots were actually fired.

O'Connor underwent surgery at Moses Cone Hospital for his injuries.

Hospital officials said his family asked no information be released on his medical status in the days after the shooting and attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.

The shooting happened the same night as the opening of ‘Notorious' - a film about the life and death of rapper Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. - who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1999.

Actor and rapper Jamal ‘Gravy' Woodard who plays B.I.G. in the movie was in attendance at the theater when the shooting occurred, officials have said.

Police have not established a connection between the shooting and the movie, though the theater canceled showings of the film the day afterwards as a precaution.

Police urge anyone who witnessed the shooting or has other information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Callers remain anonymous and become eligible for a cash reward.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com