The trial of an Aliquippa man accused of fatally shooting a fellow moviegoer at Loews Cineplex in West Homestead is expected to begin today.

Police investigators believe Larue Graves, 30, shot Shelton L. Flowers, 30, of Wilkinsburg, in an exchange of gunfire Nov. 9 in the lobby of The Waterfront cinema after a screening of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," starring rap artist 50 Cent.

Mr. Graves is charged with one count of homicide and a gun violation.

A witness to the theater shooting identified Mr. Graves from a photo array. Police recovered a handgun at the time of his arrest.

When arrested, Mr. Graves was on parole for voluntary manslaughter in the 1993 death of an Oakland man that witnesses said was related to gang colors.

Police said the fatal fight at the theater was triggered by Mr. Flowers and Mr. Graves running into each other in the men's restroom.

They exchanged words, Mr. Flowers punched Mr. Graves, causing him to fall against a sink, and the fight spilled out into the concession area. Both men drew guns and fired, police said. A bullet hit Mr. Flowers in the femoral artery.

After the shooting, police said they had no information that it had any connection to the movie, which contains gun violence. The theater decided, however, not to show the film the next day.

Publicists for the Paramount Pictures Corp. refused to comment on any connection between the film and the incident.

Yesterday, Senior Common Pleas Judge John K. Reilly ruled that the film's content cannot be mentioned in the courtroom when jurors are present.