Florida gunman at movie screening says he feared attack

MIAMI (Reuters) - The man charged with shooting and killing a fellow
moviegoer during an argument over cellphone use in a Florida theater is
a retired police officer who says he feared being attacked.

Curtis Reeves, 71, a former Tampa police captain, was charged with
second-degree murder after Monday's shooting.

He was denied bond during a video appearance from jail before a circuit
court judge in Pasco County on Tuesday afternoon and faces possible life
in prison if found guilty.

The killing occurred before the showing of a new combat drama "Lone
Survivor" that stars Mark Wahlberg and tells the story of four Navy
SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission in Afghanistan. The movie is based
on a New York Times non-fiction best seller.

The Pasco County sheriff's office said Reeves was watching coming
attractions with his wife when they got into an argument with
43-year-old Chad Oulson and his wife, who were seated directly in front
of them in the Tampa-area Grove 16 movie theater.

Oulson was using a cellphone to text message or make a mobile video call
to a daycare center or babysitter looking after his 3-year-old daughter.

According to an arrest affidavit released by the sheriff's office,
Reeves said he brandished and fired his .380-caliber semiautomatic
handgun after Oulson stood up and struck him in the face with an unknown
object.

Oulson's wife, Nicole, was wounded in the hand by the same fatal gunshot
that hit her husband in the chest, police said.

Although the affidavit quotes Reeves as saying he was "in fear of being
attacked" when he fired his gun, witnesses said Oulson had only thrown a
bag of popcorn at him.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told reporters outside the movie
theater on Monday that it was "absolutely crazy" for an argument over a
cellphone to escalate so badly out of control.

Lawyers for Reeves could not be reached for immediate comment, and it
was not clear whether he would seek immunity from prosecution under
Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.

The statute allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves from
serious injury, rather than retreat to avoid confrontation, if they
believe their life is in danger.

(Reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Steve Orlofsky)

http://tinyurl.com/mjxsw5a


And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—A new study released today indicates
that Americans are safe from the threat of gun violence except in
schools, malls, airports, movie theatres, workplaces, streets, and their
own homes.

Also: highways, turnpikes, libraries, places of worship, parks,
universities, restaurants, post offices, and cars.

Plus: driveways, garages, gyms, stores, military bases—and a host of
other buildings, structures, and sites.

National Rifle Association C.E.O. Wayne LaPierre applauded the study,
saying that it reinforced his organization’s long-held position that the
United States does not need additional gun laws. “This study makes it
abundantly clear that Americans are in no danger of gun violence except
in these isolated four hundred and thirteen places,” he said.

He added that he hoped that the study would spark a conversation “about
the root cause of mass shootings: people who recklessly show up at
places where they could be shot at.”



- - - -

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:32:27 PM UTC-5, F.O.A.D. wrote:
Florida gunman at movie screening says he feared attack



MIAMI (Reuters) - The man charged with shooting and killing a fellow

moviegoer during an argument over cellphone use in a Florida theater is

a retired police officer who says he feared being attacked.



Curtis Reeves, 71, a former Tampa police captain, was charged with

second-degree murder after Monday's shooting.



He was denied bond during a video appearance from jail before a circuit

court judge in Pasco County on Tuesday afternoon and faces possible life

in prison if found guilty.



The killing occurred before the showing of a new combat drama "Lone

Survivor" that stars Mark Wahlberg and tells the story of four Navy

SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission in Afghanistan. The movie is based

on a New York Times non-fiction best seller.



The Pasco County sheriff's office said Reeves was watching coming

attractions with his wife when they got into an argument with

43-year-old Chad Oulson and his wife, who were seated directly in front

of them in the Tampa-area Grove 16 movie theater.



Oulson was using a cellphone to text message or make a mobile video call

to a daycare center or babysitter looking after his 3-year-old daughter.



According to an arrest affidavit released by the sheriff's office,

Reeves said he brandished and fired his .380-caliber semiautomatic

handgun after Oulson stood up and struck him in the face with an unknown

object.



Oulson's wife, Nicole, was wounded in the hand by the same fatal gunshot

that hit her husband in the chest, police said.



Although the affidavit quotes Reeves as saying he was "in fear of being

attacked" when he fired his gun, witnesses said Oulson had only thrown a

bag of popcorn at him.



Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told reporters outside the movie

theater on Monday that it was "absolutely crazy" for an argument over a

cellphone to escalate so badly out of control.



Lawyers for Reeves could not be reached for immediate comment, and it

was not clear whether he would seek immunity from prosecution under

Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.



The statute allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves from

serious injury, rather than retreat to avoid confrontation, if they

believe their life is in danger.



(Reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Steve Orlofsky)



http://tinyurl.com/mjxsw5a





And for old friend Gene, a real troll:



WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)�A new study released today indicates

that Americans are safe from the threat of gun violence except in

schools, malls, airports, movie theatres, workplaces, streets, and their

own homes.



Also: highways, turnpikes, libraries, places of worship, parks,

universities, restaurants, post offices, and cars.



Plus: driveways, garages, gyms, stores, military bases�and a host of

other buildings, structures, and sites.



National Rifle Association C.E.O. Wayne LaPierre applauded the study,

saying that it reinforced his organization�s long-held position that the

United States does not need additional gun laws. �This study makes it

abundantly clear that Americans are in no danger of gun violence except

in these isolated four hundred and thirteen places,� he said.



He added that he hoped that the study would spark a conversation �about

the root cause of mass shootings: people who recklessly show up at

places where they could be shot at.�







- - - -



What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn

tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser

dead?





Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

Flagged for the **** it is.

On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:32:27 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

snip
And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

snip

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

The whole thing was a troll. Just as was the earlier thread you started. You must assume that no one
but you reads or watches the news.

I was pleased to see that you didn't slam all Americans because of the actions of one individual.
Now *that's* a step up.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!

On 1/15/14, 7:46 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:32:27 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

snip
And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

snip

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

The whole thing was a troll. Just as was the earlier thread you started. You must assume that no one
but you reads or watches the news.

I was pleased to see that you didn't slam all Americans because of the actions of one individual.
Now *that's* a step up.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!



You're entitled to your opinion. I did find it amusing, however, that
hours after I suggested the shooter would try to claim "stand your
ground," he did.

On Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:53:59 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/15/14, 7:46 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:32:27 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

snip
And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

snip

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

The whole thing was a troll. Just as was the earlier thread you started. You must assume that no one
but you reads or watches the news.

I was pleased to see that you didn't slam all Americans because of the actions of one individual.
Now *that's* a step up.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!



You're entitled to your opinion. I did find it amusing, however, that
hours after I suggested the shooter would try to claim "stand your
ground," he did.

He obviously had no other defense, and that phrase had been thrown around TV all day. No, you
weren't too original on that one.

If he can convince the jury that he felt mortally threatened, then he may get off. I don't know how
dark it was, or what he thought he saw or felt in the theater. The major media is playing it like he
shot for no reason whatsoever, except the cell phone. But then, Dick Gregory is the puppy of NBC,
and we know where much of that comes from.

I do know that he was ****ed. I've been very ****ed when folks in front of me turn on their cell
phones to take pictures. I have no problem informing them how distracting their phone is to those
behind them.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!

On 1/15/14, 8:15 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:53:59 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 1/15/14, 7:46 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:32:27 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

snip
And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

snip

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

The whole thing was a troll. Just as was the earlier thread you started. You must assume that no one
but you reads or watches the news.

I was pleased to see that you didn't slam all Americans because of the actions of one individual.
Now *that's* a step up.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!



You're entitled to your opinion. I did find it amusing, however, that
hours after I suggested the shooter would try to claim "stand your
ground," he did.

He obviously had no other defense, and that phrase had been thrown around TV all day. No, you
weren't too original on that one.

If he can convince the jury that he felt mortally threatened, then he may get off. I don't know how
dark it was, or what he thought he saw or felt in the theater. The major media is playing it like he
shot for no reason whatsoever, except the cell phone. But then, Dick Gregory is the puppy of NBC,
and we know where much of that comes from.

I do know that he was ****ed. I've been very ****ed when folks in front of me turn on their cell
phones to take pictures. I have no problem informing them how distracting their phone is to those
behind them.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!

Better not do that in a Florida theater...the guy you are informing
might feel threatened and Stand His Ground.

On 1/15/2014 7:53 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/15/14, 7:46 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:32:27 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

snip
And for old friend Gene, a real troll:

snip

What could be a more appropriate response to having a bag of popcorn
tossed at you than to whip out your pistol and shoot the popcorn tosser
dead?


Oh...no personal insults were "slung" in this post.

The whole thing was a troll. Just as was the earlier thread you
started. You must assume that no one
but you reads or watches the news.

I was pleased to see that you didn't slam all Americans because of the
actions of one individual.
Now *that's* a step up.
--

Hope you're having a spectacular day!



You're entitled to your opinion. I did find it amusing, however, that
hours after I suggested the shooter would try to claim "stand your
ground," he did.

What was the basis of his claim?