PORT ST. LUCIE — A man fired a handgun after a youth punched him as they left the midnight showing of the Dark Knight Rises movie at the Rave Theater about 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to police.

One of the bullets hit a suspect's hat. The other bullet damaged a front window of the movie theater.

Although the incident occurred after showing of the Dark Knight Rises" the "incident is not connected to the movie itself or to the recent tragedy in Aurora, Colorado," said police spokesman Master Sergeant Frank Sabol.

A theater official referred questions to a corporate spokesman.

The incident occurred, outside the theater, near a theater exit. The unidentified 16-year-old assailant, from St. Lucie County, was charged with simple battery.

Police quoted witnesses as saying the man and his wife, in their 20s, just left the theater when they were approached by a group of four males. The couple were pushed and the husband was punched in the face. Then he pulled his gun, for which he has a concealed permit, and fired two bullets.

The suspects fled in an SUV and Port St. Lucie police stopped them near the movie theater.

This investigation is ongoing and names of those involved haven't been released.

Off-duty Port St. Lucie Police officers usually provide law enforcement security at the theater but none were working there early Tuesday when the incident occurred, Sabol said.