Accused Movie Theater Shooter Said He Was 'In Fear of Being Attacked'

Yahoo News/Good Morning America ^ | STEVE OSUNSAMI, SENI TIENABESO and COLLEEN CURRY (GMA)

[Anton.Rutter]

The elderly man accused of shooting a movie theater patron in Florida after an argument over text messaging told police that he fired because he "was in fear of being attacked."

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a news conference today that the victim, Chad Oulson, 43, was texting his young daughter's babysitter when an argument erupted with Reeves over texting during previews before the movie "Lone Survivor."

[freeangel]

I’ve not been a happy camper when people are using their cells in theaters either. What’s so hard about getting up and goin to the lobby if you feel you MUST use it? Oh yea—that would be so offensive to have to get up off your lazy but do so so. I certainly don’t condone the shooting, but I certainly have felt that same level of frustration in having to watch self important jackas’ behaviors. Maybe management should make clients check their cells at the door.

[sport]

Thank you for posting this. That was my take on it also. As I have stated many time, yours is one of the few opinions on this forum I respect.

[Boogieman]

Well, they have a theater full of witnesses, so I’m sure they’ll be able to determine that.

[momtothree]

“Picture yourself here. You carry a pistol for self protection... he was afraid of a younger and stronger man getting his hand on him before he could deploy his legal, and rational, means of self defense”.

Picture yourself here. You decided to verbally confront a much younger and stronger man at a movie instead of moving your seat. The scenario escalates and someone throws popcorn at you. You decide at this point the stronger, younger person may get the upper hand so you shoot. Your bullet is six inches off the target and you shoot the ten year old in front of the younger, stronger man. (or the older lady, or the teenager or whomever). ***My point here is this was a bad shoot no matter what. He didn’t know for sure if he was going to hit his target or the person in front, or next to the man. He acted with complete disregard to the people in the entire movie house. Thank goodness the gun jammed... or we could be hearing about more coffins and grieving families over texting.

[dangerdoc]

“The jackboot lickers, the badge lickers, and the cop worshipers will be along shortly to defend the killer and call you a cop hater.”

The irony is strong in this one.

[meatloaf]

That’s something most here haven’t noticed. I’m wondering if the texter didn’t trigger an instinctual response by the ex-cop. Throwing popcorn isn’t exactly adult behavior. It does indicate the amount of rage the husband had building or it could have been mistaken for a diversionary tactic prior to an attack. The older ex-cop was facing a much younger man.

The one thing no one seemed to want to address in the Trayvon Zimmerman confrontation was the amount of rage that lead to the attack on Zimmerman.

[Travis McGee]

Yeah, and when you shoot somebody for that, you go to PRISON.

Every CCW class pounds home the shoot-no shoot situations, and pounds home the message that if you do a “bad shoot,” you will go to prison.

This is more of an issue of an ex-cop bully who thought he could still order his fellow citizens around, and when it didn’t work out, he pulled a gun in anger and shot the man.

It was during the PREVIEWS for goodness sake! Commercials! Not the movie!

[Boogieman]

That seems to have fallen into disregard as lots of people not so worthy of respect became elderly.

[sagar]

After reading details, it does sound like STG to me. The older guy feared for his safety after popcorn is thrown at him.

The dead guy sounds like St. Tratvon with popcorn.

[petitfour]

Wow. Get thee to a shrink!

[a fool in paradise]

He’s certianly been repeatedly attacked on FR.

[a fool in paradise]

Reeves' statements raise the possibility that he could try to invoke Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, made famous by the shooting in which George Zimmerman killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012.

George Zimmerman didn't use a "Stand Your Ground" defense and neither has this man (yet).

The gun grabber media is spinning this Floriduh shooting story (again).

[Celtic Conservative]

There is no defending the indefensible. This guy screwed up big time. His response was disproportionate to the threat, whether real or perceived. In the interests of disclosure I feel obligated to tell you I'm a cop. Most of my fellow officers would agree with me that the shooter screwed up royally. If fact, it was a topic at work last night, and all those I spoke to agreed the shooter was in the wrong.

BTW, calling someone you disagree with names does nothing to strengthen your argument(IMHO).

CC

[Fee]

This is a lesson for all. If an old man starts yelling at you, you have the right to yell back. But wisdom should kick in. You do not know the state of mind of a verbally abusive stranger. Best thing was to agree so you diffuse the situation and move yourself to a different location in the theater.
I had a crazy encounter once when I was in a check out line at Home Depot. A couple in front of me, the woman did not know that she dropped her keys on the floor. I drew her attention to the keys by pointing it out on the floor. She was about to get them, her boyfriend started yelling at me. I guess he was trying to impress her. Why do you force a lady to pick up her own keys, you should be doing that!!!??? The cashier and everyone in the check out line was surprised. I could have told him to drop dead, but to diffuse the situation I picked up the keys for her and told him he was right. The woman was more embarassed by her boyfriends antics. Her boyfriend was smug that he made me pick up the keys for her. Judging from the woman’s body language, he showed a side of his personality she does not seem to like. Guess who really lost in the incident.
Minutes later I was on my way home without an incident. If I told her boyfriend to drop dead, who knows how the incident would turn out. Arrest, serious injury or even death. That is the world we live in. Until it gets more civil, one must be smart to survive. After all according to the US Constitution I have the right to walk the streets of an inner city black neighborhood late at night, but one doesn t.

[TheRhinelander]

EXACTLY.

I might add that the amount of hatred for cops shown here is disturbing.

[latina4dubya]

The jackboot lickers, the badge lickers, and the cop worshipers will be along shortly to defend the killer and call you a cop hater.

yep--there was at least one freeper defending the retired cop yesterday...

[Travis McGee]

If you carry a pistol with your CCW permit, it is up to you to move away from confrontations, not to escalate them to the point of a totally avoidable homicide.

This lesson is pounded home in every CCW class.

The real issue here is “ex-cop bully who thought he could still order people to obey him.”

[a fool in paradise]

An off-duty Sumter County Sheriff's deputy who was in the theater quickly subdued the alleged gunman and took possession of his weapon, police said. The off-duty deputy, who held Reeves until arresting officers arrived, was not immediately identified.

Did the Off-duty officer have a gun?

Another instance of a good guy with a gun confronting a bad guy with a gun?

[TheRhinelander]

It doesn’t matter of it was during the previews. The rule is when the lights go down you shut off your cellphone. No ifs ands or buts about it.

Obey the rules or get the &^%$ out.