Posted on 01/13/2014 3:27:40 PM PST by Impala64ssa
An altercation between two couples at a Wesley Chapel movie theater Monday led to a shooting that left a man dead, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as Curtis Reeves, a retired Tampa police officer. He has been arrested on a charge of second-degree homicide.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Chad and Nichole Oulson got into an argument with Reeves and his wife, who were sitting behind them during previews for the 1:20 p.m. showing of the war movie Lone Survivor.
Argument started over cell phone
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the argument began when Reeves became upset about noise the couple was making while texting on a cell phone. Nocco said Reeves asked Oulson to stop several times, and that at one point he got up and left the theater, then returned to his seat.
Nocco said Oulson then asked if Reeves had reported him to theater management for using his phone, and the two men began to argue.
At some point, Reeves shot Oulson in the chest, Nocco said. He said Nichole Oulson put her hand up to her husband's chest as the Reeves shot him, trying to stop the bullet.
Nocco said two off-duty nurses, who were also in the theater, began performing CPR and tried to save Oulson. Both victims were transported to local hospitals, but Chad Oulson died. His wife was treated for a gunshot wound to her hand, authorities said.
An off-duty Sumter County deputy was inside the theater at the time, Nocco said. Authorities said the deputy secured the gun and held Reeves until deputies arrived and took him into custody, authorities said. No other injuries were reported.
"The suspected decides to pull out a .380 (handgun), and he shoots the victim," Sheriff Chris Nocco said. "It's absolutely crazy that it would rise to this level of (violence) over somebody texting at a movie theater."
Theater evacuated after shooting
About 25 people were in the theater at the time of the shooting. The theater was evacuated, closed and cordoned off. Deputies and other law enforcement personnel converged on the scene.
Grove 16 is located off Interstate 75 and State Road 54 at 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd. It includes a restaurant theater called the CineBisto, but it isn't clear where in the building the shooting took place.
"Everybody is paranoid, scared, because a movie theater should be a safe place where people should be able to go out and enjoy themselves," Nocco said. "But what America has seen over the last couple of years is that movie theaters have become dangerous places where injuries occur."
According to Tampa Police, Reeves retired from the department on September 30, 1993 as a Captain. A TPD spokesperson said he was instrumental in establishing the department's first Tactical Response Team.
"We are not aware of any contact with the department since his departure more than 20 years ago," the statement said.
Unlike the mass shooting that occurred inside a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in 2012, this was an isolated incident stemming from an argument between two couples.
Cobb Theatres released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. The theatre is currently closed, and we are actively working with the sheriff’s office on this investigation. This was an isolated altercation between two guests that escalated unexpectedly. The safety, security and comfort of our guests and team members are always our top priorities, and we are truly heartbroken by this incident."
Hopefully a good point. Plenty of former military now go into domestic policing.
Try landing at the wrong a/p in Branson, or Wichita.
Too many unenforced and unenforceable laws these days.
Going Galt is not ignorance of The Law.
If you have any factual statistics that would change my perception of reality, I would be curious to see them.
If not...crawl back into your hole.
Looks can be deceiving. It is Florida and a lot of people carry. He may have gone to use the restroom for all we know. I remember another story about a neighborhood watch captain who gunned down a young teenager for nothing more than the color of his skin. It was all very believable when that story was first reported, a wanna-be cop just itching to shoot someone (guns have that effect on people you know) murdering an innocent kid in cold blood. I’m not so trusting of news reporting anymore.
Hey, the theater ran that 30-second admonishment to shut off all phones, pagers, etc., during the movie, promising dire consequences for violators, did it not?
Well, there ya go. The offending moviegoer was simply "removed from the auditorium".
Thoughtless, inconsiderate people aren't likely to thank you for pointing out their rudeness. Sucks, but either put up with it or go ask the manager for a refund and try again some other time.
Or do what I do and avoid large gatherings of the dumb masses and get your entertainment at home, where you'll be guaranteed to be the biggest jerk there.
Interfering with other people through talking or blocking signals they may need because you think you are more important is not going Gault. Its boorish and pathetic.
Excellent point! NOT GUILTY!
BTW, Charles thanks kicking the Muslims collective butt. Say hello to the Khazars for me.
Whether I carry or not, and when, is nobodies business but my own...unless I use the weapon(s) I may or may not be carrying at all times, to inflict force against another person.
My lethal weapons have never been employed to extra-judiciously correct anothers (alledgedly) rude public behavior.
Are you really dumb enough to try to equate Zimmerman with Reeves?
I’m equating the initial reporting of the two incidents.
good thing the guy didn’t bring a screaming toddler to the movie or Reeves would have REALLY got mad.
Pasco Co. Sheriff Chris Nocco specifically described the scenario wherein Reeves left his seat to complain to theater staff. When he returned, Oulson was giving Reeves lip about tattling to management.
these are the kinds of acts that will bring us full gun control because if you can't trust the old geezer cops to smarten up, how you going to get we mere peasants to smarten up....
the excop collecting retirement pension for 20 yrs hopefully has seen his last free day....
Yeah! He probably have shot all three. The guy, the wife, and the toddler. You peasants are going to respect my authority! I told you to keep the damn kid quite.
He is a retire cop. I would not bet that he will get any prison time.
Retired 20 years. How old was he? Senile?
Florida is a stand your ground state, no? Maybe the cop felt his life was in danger.
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