Texting in the theater in Florida? I don't think so...

[Al Bundy]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/2...-movie-theater

WESLEY CHAPEL (FOX 13) -

A moviegoer lost his life inside a Pasco County theater Monday afternoon after a dispute over texting with a retired police officer.

According to the sheriff's office, the dispute happened before the 1:20 showing of 'Lone Survivor' had even gotten underway at the Cobb CineBistro at Grove 16 complex on Wesley Grove Blvd.

Investigators say two couples had gotten into an argument over noise.

"The victim was on his cell phone; he was texting. We believe he was making some kind of noise. This noise led to an altercation between the suspect and the victim," Sheriff Chris Nocco explained.

A witness recalled seeing the agitated man -- later identified by deputies as Curtis Reeves -- get up and leave in an apparent attempt to find a manager. When he came back alone, the argument escalated.

Charles Cummings told FOX 13 he heard the victim say he was texting his 3-year-old daughter before Reeves pulled out a pistol.

"Their voices start going up, there seems to be a confrontation, somebody throws popcorn, then bang, he was shot," said Cummings, who was there to celebrate his birthday. "I heard the victim say, 'I can't believe...,' then he fell on us."

"I asked if the guy was OK, and he started gurgling blood and then fell," recalled Cummings' son, who said he ran to call 911.

Both the man, identified by deputies as Chad Oulson, and his wife Nicole were struck by the single shot. Oulson, 43, was hit in the chest and died, while Nicole was hit in the hand when she put her hand up in front of her husband. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

An off-duty Sumter County deputy inside the theater was able to grab the gun and detain Reeves until deputies arrived, the sheriff added.

Reeves, a 71-year-old retired Tampa police officer, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. A 2005 Tampa Bay Times article also described him as a former director of security for Busch Gardens.

Moments after he was named as the suspect, Tampa police issued a statement saying Reeves had retired back in 1993 as a captain.

"He was instrumental in establishing the department's first Tactical Response Team," the statement explained. "We are not aware of any contact with the department since his departure more than 20 years ago."

Nocco said his detectives considered if this could be a 'stand your ground' case but decided the criteria did not apply.

"It's absolutely crazy it would rise to this level over somebody just texting in a movie theater," he offered.

"I can't believe people would bring a gun to a movie," added Cummings, a Marine who served in Vietnam. "I can't believe they would argue and fight and shoot one another over popcorn or even a cell phone."

Read more: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/2...#ixzz2qKGDJNuj
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[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

I am assuming that most elderly folks have physical conditions that would make fisticuffs unfair at best, and possibly deadly in some worst cases.

If that assumption doesn't prove to be true, this was probably murder. If the texter didn't show an eminent physical threat, this was probably murder.

He shot a man over a thrown bag of popcorn, in an incident of his own creation, which he was wrong to initiate in the first place. I'm not sure what you think you're defending, but this is not the guy to be white knighting.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by Fish

You continue to miss the difference between defending yourself, and killing another unarmed person over a disagreement. No witnesses reported any struggle. Shooter is behind bars, and likely will be for a long time. That should tell you everything you need to know about your idea of defense.

I saw another article that said there was a physical confrontation. Like I've been saying, a lot of missing information. I'm not missing anything, I just won't jump to the assumption he is guilty of cold blooded murder until some details are clarified. I thought I had made that clear...

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

He shot a man over a thrown bag of popcorn, in an incident of his own creation, which he was wrong to initiate in the first place. I'm not sure what you think you're defending, but this is not the guy to be white knighting.

If this proves to be the truth, so be it.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

He might get conjegul visits.

I agree....he's ****ed

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Pablo

Well, there was a 28 year difference between the two men.

Are we supposed to assume that a 50 year old man can't reasonably defend himself without a weapon from a 22 year old? Is the difference in age what makes it alright to use a gun to resolve a disagreement instead of engaging in fisticuffs?

Or are you just assuming that all 71 year olds are weak and fragile, and can't fend for themselves?

No, it's unpossible for an old man to defend himself against a 20 something.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

If this proves to be the truth, so be it.

That's the claim made by his own attorneys:

Curtis Reeves "had every right to defend himself" after being hit with an unknown object, believed to be bag of popcorn, his attorneys said at a standing-room-only bond hearing. They dismissed the case against their client as "weak" and insisted the victim was, in fact, the aggressor.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/2...heads-to-court

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

No, it's unpossible for an old man to defend himself against a 20 something.

I figured as much. I just feel awful for you helpless guys in your 50's and 60's. Just have to curl up into a ball and take the beating unless you have a weapon on you.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

That's the claim made by his own attorneys:



http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/2...heads-to-court

What an idiot and I have no doubt he thought the stand your ground law would bail him out.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

What an idiot and I have no doubt he thought the stand your ground law would bail him out.

nah, I think it's a classic case of a guy losing his temper over something very minor. I'm guessing the old man just kind of lost it. Now someone is dead. I'm guessing the old guy had some anger managment issues he never really dealt with.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

nah, I think it's a classic case of a guy losing his temper over something very minor. I'm guessing the old man just kind of lost it. Now someone is dead. I'm guessing the old guy had some anger managment issues he never really dealt with.

Or maybe he was able to vent his anger in some way during his police years.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Retired cop on a power trip. I'm shocked

Yup

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

Retired cop on a power trip. I'm shocked

Retired "POLICE CAPTAIN". This guy was a ****ing Captain.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Retired "POLICE CAPTAIN". This guy was a ****ing Captain.

That must be why he was able to shoot two people with one bullet.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

nah, I think it's a classic case of a guy losing his temper over something very minor. I'm guessing the old man just kind of lost it. Now someone is dead. I'm guessing the old guy had some anger managment issues he never really dealt with.

If I read what happened correctly he shot once, sat down and put the gun in his lap. He knew what he was doing and what the law was

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

If I read what happened correctly he shot once, sat down and put the gun in his lap. He knew what he was doing and what the law was

If that works, I've got about six people that I'm going to go pick a fight with as soon as they start using their phone.