Retired
cop accused of fatally shooting man for texting in Florida movie theater
A retired police officer
allegedly shot two people, one fatally, during a cell phone dispute inside a
Florida movie theater Monday, authorities said.
The dispute began around 1:30
p.m. at a theater in Wesley Chapel when Curtis Reeves Jr., 71, told 43-year-old
Chad Oulson to stop texting during a showing of "Lone Survivor," Pasco
County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. When Oulson refused, Reeves alerted the
theater staff, which escalated the confrontation.
At that point Reeves allegedly
pulled out a gun and shot Oulson, authorities said. Oulson's wife, Nicole, put
her hand in front of her husband in an effort to protect him and was injured.
Chad Oulson later died from the
gunshot.
An off-duty police officer who
was present at the scene restrained Reeves until authorities arrived, Nocco
said.
Reeves, who retired from the
Tampa Police Department in September 1993 as a captain, was charged with
second-degree homicide, authorities said.
Nocco said his detectives
considered if the case qualified under the state's controversial "stand
your ground law," which permits residents to employ deadly force if they
fear imminent danger, but decided the criteria did not apply,
MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.
"It's absolutely crazy it
would rise to this level over somebody just texting in a movie theater,"
Charles Cummings, a Vietnam veteran who was watching the movie at the time of
the shooting, told MyFoxTampaBay.com. "I can't believe people would bring
a gun to a movie."
