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 mings 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 mings, 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 mings' 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 mings, 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...#ixzz2qLCFW2Hd
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Trill, forgive me for asking but what in the world is a frost king? Been seeing you saying that alot lately.
a white male who commits random acts of violence
Son of a
I hope he will be gang-raped in prison everyday by strong black men for the rest of his life
Cop goes cop, more news at 11
You need to stick with sawm. Frost King just sounds ing badass
the race baiting on both sides just worsens the issue. thanks for justifying m>s' schtick. , you probably are m>s too.
Why did he run to call 911? The dude had a phone obviously.
Looks like a mean, crusty old dude.
Obviously shooting someone is not ok, but why do people in this day and age think that texting/talking in the movies is ok? It's ridiculous that an adult can be so oblivious to his/her surroundings and be such an inconsiderate a-hole and ruin the movie for everyone.
That's what you get for texting like an asshole during a movie. I support this 100%.
of course black people don't understand the problem with being loud and rude in a movie theater.
EDIT: I just saw this was BEFORE the movie started. nevermind, that's ing awful. The whole point of previews is to get all your texting out of the way before the movie starts.
SO to recap
Texting before the movie = shooter is an asshole
Texting during a movie = guy who gets shot is the asshole
My paternal grandparents used to live in Pasco County. Haven for old folks
Who sends a text to a 3 year old?
i was like "I know Trill is going to have fun with this "
So who's the badass Frost King referenced in the le?
It's been a while since I've been to the movies but doesn't the courtesy screen come on after the previews?
No, no. That's what First Look is for. Movie etiquette should extend to previews, as well.
But, these are the reasons I stick to 11:00am showings. Weekdays, preferably.
A piece of human being is a piece a human being, regardless of color.
Had that happened watching you with your Trayboons Troll schtick would have been hilarious.
I love the no texting commercial that is shown at Cinemark theaters. If it's an emergency, step into the hallway. Otherwise, it can wait.
Why don't you tell everyone here about Operation Ko Samui!
Brickhouse Cinema has the best warnings ever. They even tell you how to rat someone out for talking/texting (write the waitress a note) and they will send the bouncers to throw them out.
I guess he had his gun to stop a mass shooting.
I like the no texting deals at the Draft house.
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