Retired cop kills man in movie theatre over...texting

[Senator Clay Davis]

Florida is just so ####ed up...

An argument over texting in a Florida movie theatre Monday triggered a retired Tampa police captain to fatally shoot a man sitting in front of him, as about 25 horrified moviegoers looked on, sheriff’s officials said.

“Somebody throws popcorn. I’m not sure who threw the popcorn,” said Charles Cummings, who, as a birthday treat, was about to watch the movie “Lone Survivor” at The Grove 16 Theater.

“And then bang, he was shot.”

Curtis Reeves, 71, has been charged with second-degree murder and it’s not immediately clear whether he has retained an attorney.

Pasco County Sheriff’s officials said the shooting happened when Reeves asked 43-year-old Chad Oulson to stop texting at the theatre in Wesley Chapel, a suburb about a half hour north of downtown Tampa.

Reeves and his wife were sitting behind Oulson and his wife. Oulson told Reeves that he was texting with his 3-year-old daughter, Cummings said.

Cummings said the man in the back row — later identified as Reeves — got up and left the auditorium, presumably to get a manager. But he came back after a few minutes, without a manager and appearing upset. Moments later, the argument between the two men resumed, and the man in the front row stood up.

Officials said Oulson asked Reeves if he reported him to management for using his phone.

Cummings said the men started raising their voices and popcorn was thrown. Authorities said Reeves took out a gun, and Oulson’s wife put her hand over her husband, and that’s when Reeves fired his weapon, striking Nichole Oulson in the hand and her husband in the chest.

“I can’t believe people would bring a pistol, a gun, to a movie,” Cummings said. “I can’t believe they would argue and fight and shoot one another over popcorn. Over a cellphone.”

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/01...-over-texting/

[FlamesAddiction]

That 3-year old might need some counseling one day.

[Erick Estrada]

Sad story but not surprising in a country that has a deadly obsession with guns.

[dirk diggler]

clearly the solution here is that everyone in the theatre should also have had guns..... that is the american way. brutal

[SportsJunky]

Florida needs a do over.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The United States of America is just so ####ed up...

fyp

This is yet another example of what is wrong with that country as a whole. Firstly, why is a 3 year old texting, and what kind of an idiot parent feels the need to text with a 3 year old at all. Never mind the fact that you were gone to a movie for 2 hours.

Secondly, why is a 71 year old man carrying a gun around in broad daylight, never mind to the movie theatre. In what society besides America is this not only socially acceptable, but seen as a god given right by seemingly over 40% of the population?

I'm honestly surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. I hate going to movies in the US. I've been 4 or 5 times in California, Florida, Oregon and New York, and everytime there's been multiple people texting in the theatres.

I'm really getting to the point of being fed up with smart phones, and am seriously considering purchasing one of those pocket jammers the next time I'm in the US. So many people just have absolutely no social graces when it comes to the use of cell phones.

(N.B. My comments are in no way meant to insinuate that the victim bore any responsiblity for what happened. It's just a comment on the idiocy of the seemingly overwhelming need for some to text 24/7)

[Muffins]

Seems like a relevant picture

[Ozy_Flame]

If someone else had a gun to prevent this, everything would be alright. More bullets and shoot-at-the-hip self defense manoveres from under-trained citizens would surely have prevented this mess.

[Hockeyguy15]

Has Reeves been to the Stampede?

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

fyp

This is yet another example of what is wrong with that country as a whole. Firstly, why is a 3 year old texting, and what kind of an idiot parent feels the need to text with a 3 year old at all. Never mind the fact that you were gone to a movie for 2 hours.

Secondly, why is a 71 year old man carrying a gun around in broad daylight, never mind to the movie theatre. In what society besides America is this not only socially acceptable, but seen as a god given right by seemingly over 40% of the population?

I'm honestly surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. I hate going to movies in the US. I've been 4 or 5 times in California, Florida, Oregon and New York, and everytime there's been multiple people texting in the theatres.

I'm really getting to the point of being fed up with smart phones, and am seriously considering purchasing one of those pocket jammers the next time I'm in the US. So many people just have absolutely no social graces when it comes to the use of cell phones.

(N.B. My comments are in no way meant to insinuate that the victim bore any responsiblity for what happened. It's just a comment on the idiocy of the seemingly overwhelming need for some to text 24/7)

I am not really sure what a 3 year old would be texting anyway. dfaskflsdahf;lasdfas.. It should be noted that this happened during previews and not the movie though, which I don't think is that inappropriate.

I am not buying that Americans are more likely to text in a movie theater. I've been to Canadian movies and have seen plenty of people texting. I go to several movies a year in the US, and can't remember the last time I was bothered by a texter.

Also, despite all the headlines, most US cities, and the country as a whole have seen their murder rates declining rather dramatically over the past few years.

[PsYcNeT]

"I shot a kid man..."

[Resolute 14]

“I can’t believe people would bring a pistol, a gun, to a movie,” Cummings said. “I can’t believe they would argue and fight and shoot one another over popcorn. Over a cellphone.

Does this person live under a rock? Murder over trivial things is an American tradition.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

I am not really sure what a 3 year old would be texting anyway. dfaskflsdahf;lasdfas.. It should be noted that this happened during previews and not the movie though, which I don't think is that inappropriate.

I am not buying that Americans are more likely to text in a movie theater. I've been to Canadian movies and have seen plenty of people texting. I go to several movies a year in the US, and can't remember the last time I was bothered by a texter.

Also, despite all the headlines, most US cities, and the country as a whole have seen their murder rates declining rather dramatically over the past few years.

Wow, I had missed that this happened during previews, which makes it even more f'ed up, and yet somehow even more quintessentially 'Murican.

[DuffMan]

That's the 2A, and FREEDOM in action for you.

[Thor]

I hate people who even open their phones in the theater, like bright tiny flashlights in the dark that draws your attention away from the screen.

Add in mental instability or just a hot temper and I could end up shooting someone over it.

[Huntingwhale]

God bless America

[DuffMan]

I wonder if he will go with the Zimmerman defense and say he was in fear that his life was in jeopardy. Pretty good chance he'll be a free man if he does.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Thor

I hate people who even open their phones in the theater, like bright tiny flashlights in the dark that draws your attention away from the screen.

Add in mental instability or just a hot temper and I could end up shooting someone over it.

You really want to post that last sentence on an internet message board? Not smart.

[puckluck2]

Ermerica.Third world country with third world citizens.

[CaptainCrunch]

I doubt if the witness statements are going to allow him to use the self defense I was scared for my life defense.

I would vote with the guy had mental stability issues and it will be interesting to see what gets pulled up in any investigation, because if he did have documented mental illnesses or a possibility of one, then this will allow the anti gun groups to go after the gun registration process.