Prosecutors: This wasn't the first blow-up for Florida theater shooter Curtis Reeves

I have a couple of questions. How crowded was the theater? Does anyone consider flying popcorn a lethal weapon. When Reeves left to get a supervisor, did he leave the building and go to his car?

Prosecutors: This wasn't the first blow-up for Florida theater shooter Curtis Reeves


By Ed Payne, CNN

updated 4:11 AM EST, Wed January 15, 2014

(CNN) -- A few weeks before a texting dispute turned deadly inside a Florida theater, the suspect Curtis Reeves had another run-in with a moviegoer, prosecutors said.

During Reeves' first court appearance on Tuesday, prosecutors said they have heard from another theater patron who said the 71-year-old former Tampa cop saw her texting and "glared at her the entire time throughout the movie" during a screening about three weeks ago.

When the woman got up to use the restroom, Reeves followed her and "made her very uncomfortable," prosecutors said.

CNN affiliate WTSP later identified the woman as Jamira Dixon of Wesley Chapel, the Tampa suburb where Monday's shooting took place.


"He became just upset about the whole situation and kept staring and kept giving us dirty looks," Dixon told the station.

Dixon said she first heard about Monday's shooting on the radio while she was driving.

"I had to pull over the car because ... it could have been us," she said. "It was just so close to home. It really makes you think how things could have went."

An argument, then a shot

The shooting happened early Monday afternoon at the Grove 16 theater, just before an afternoon showing of "Lone Survivor," a film about a Navy SEAL mission.

Reeves was with his wife and sat behind Chad Oulson, 43, and his wife, authorities said. Oulson was using his cell phone and Reeves told him to put it away, according to police and witnesses.

The two men began to argue and Reeves walked out of the auditorium. Police said Reeves was going to complain to a theater employee.

But Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told CNN on Tuesday night that the manager was busy with another customer and Reeves never addressed his complaint with a supervisor.

When Reeves returned, witnesses and authorities said that Oulson asked him if he had gone to tell on him for texting. Oulson reportedly said, in effect: I was just sending a message to my young daughter.

Police said Tuesday that Oulson was texting the daughter's babysitter.

Voices were raised. Oulson threw a bag of popcorn at Reeves, police said. Then, the former police officer took out a .380 semi-automatic handgun and shot Oulson, police said.

Standing his ground?

continued.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/15/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/

 

Just another example of armed citizens protecting themselves right?

Wonder if he will claim stand his ground, defending himself from the attack of annoying movie goers?

 

I think the judge has ruled that this is NOT a SYG case.

 

That would be my hope. I'd have to believe no one would try to justify this.

 

Reeves is a menace... I hope he goes to prison.

 

Armed Citizen yes but a retired cop.... If anyone should have restraint it would have been him... I guess not eh?

 

I'm sure that will come up I. His defense, most likely an attempt at an insanity plea.

 

The fact that he was a retired cop is basis for insanity?

 

This is a horrible story, and I think this guy became more of a loon over time. There is no defense for his actions, but I can see a retired cop after dealing with the worst of society, getting older and life not working out the way he thought it would, gathered all this pent up anger, and sadly someone had to pay for it. If there was ever any gun legislation passed, it should be that anyone having the slightest run in with the law regarding anger, not be allowed to own or buy a gun. Sadly, people like this would have found another way to get a gun, because all he wanted to do was shoot someone, or anyone that pissed him off.

Having said that, this is the exact reason my wife and I rarely if ever go to a theater to watch a movie, too many rude people, being we can watch the movie in our own home on a 60 inch flat screen with theater sound, why would we want to go to the movies?

 

Scary to think this moron was in charge of something.

 

he is gonna love watching movies there

 

Why didn't the old fool move to another seat?

 

Sense of entitlement because of his previous job? Just being a grumpy old man? Who the heck knows.

 

Yep. My guess is they'll spin it that his experiences on the force and the possible things he saw had a profound effect on him.

 

Popcorn Traumatic Stress Disorder?

 

To answer one of your questions if Tea and Skittles are lethal weapons then yes popcorn is a danger to us all. background checks should be pro formed at the ticket counter. These butter snack handlers cannot be trusted with their box of buttery goodness and are a danger to every movie goer in the land!

 

Well, if it were an acid in your face attack like they do it to some unfaithful or unruly wives in some countries, he could have got off on some self defense argument and then roamed the theatres forever, pretending to be phantom of the opera. But popcorn? Neeeeh.

 

People who text during movies and even during previews should be booted out of theaters. Killed? No. Kicked out yes. Its right up there with luxury car owners who cut into car lines from right turn only lanes and those on the highway who ride up on your bumper during rush hour then pass you to get 1 car length ahead. 20 min later and he just saved .5 seconds, but almost caused multiple accidents. Morons with too much self entitlement.

 

That doesnt give anyone the right to shoot though...

 

Don't hold your breath. This is Florida. SYG wasn't used in the Zimmerman murder case either, but it's language was inserted into the jury instructions.

 

not a bit surprised the victim is blamed by some in this case.....

you have every right to be an (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*), but you don't have the right to shoot someone for being an (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

 

I don't think he deserved to be shot.

Being a jerk is not a capital offense.

 

You think texting your babysitter is equivalent to disobeying the traffic laws?

 

It comes close enough.

If I'm poking along in a slow lane of traffic its even money that some ******** ahead of me is texting while driving.