# Florida Movie Theater Shooting Leaves One Dead In Altercation Over Texting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 13, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717 "2014-01-13T22:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/201 "2014-02-08T01:44:51Z")
Tampa Bay Times coverage of the hearing. > **[Judge: No bail for Curtis Reeves, accused in movie theater shooting](https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/bail-hearing-resumes-this-morning-in-movie-theater-shooting/2164575/)** > > DADE CITY — A judge ruled Friday that Curtis Reeves Jr., the retired Tampa police captain charged with shooting a man to death in a movie theater, will remain in jail until he goes to trial. day 1 coverage > **[Theater shooting witnesses say popcorn flew and gun went off](https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/judge-surveillance-video-showing-wesley-chapel-movie-theater-shooting/2164252/)** > > DADE CITY — In the dark of the theater, Alan Hamilton saw the kernels fly. Then, the muzzle flash and a loud bang. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/202 "2014-02-08T12:35:15Z")
I’ve been googling and trying to figure out why this bond hearing turned into a mini trial. A lot of witnesses were called, police interviews played and the surveillance video was played. I was curious about this. The judge mentioned an Arthur hearing and used the phrase _proof evident presumption great._ Google finally got a hit. STATE v. Arthur > **[STATE v. ARTHUR | 390 So.2d 717 (1980) | so2d7171912 | Leagle.com](https://www.leagle.com/decision/19801107390so2d7171912)** > > BOYD Justice. This cause is before the Court on petition for certiorari to review the decision of the district court of...so2d7171912 If I’m reading this right. The state had to show overwhelming evidence of guilt. So much that the judge was justified in denying bond. That’s why they had a mini trial for two days. The judge needed to see the entire case to make this judgement. That doesn’t bode well for the defense. They better find a better strategy before trial. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/203 "2014-02-08T12:47:56Z")
A easier explanation of proof of guilt is evident or presumption of guilt is great. A very interesting legal concept. I keep learning every time I follow a trial. [http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/sc05-739/05-739comments.pdf](http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/sc05-739/05-739comments.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/204 "2014-02-08T15:00:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Ex Cops don’t live long in prisons. Not doubting you necessarily, but do you have a cite for this? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/205 "2014-02-08T23:24:52Z")
It’s hard to imagine a 71 year old ex cop surviving for long in that environment. > **[COLUMN ONE : Prison--A Cop's Worst Nightmare : In the inmate caste system,...](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-05-mn-20657-story.html)** > > Daniel Garner always walks alone in the prison yard. > [@](#): > > By most accounts, especially those of jailed ex-cops themselves, convicted officers are marked men, ranking only a notch above child molesters and snitches at the bottom of an inmate hierarchy. They have been beaten with pipes while waiting in line for clothing, bombarded by handmade explosives tossed into their cells, and jabbed with shanks and sharpened spoons. Every encounter with another inmate, whether in the chow hall or on the yard, is a potential confrontation. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/206 "2014-02-08T23:47:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s hard to imagine a 71 year old ex cop surviving for long in that environment. > > [COLUMN ONE : Prison--A Cop's Worst Nightmare : In the inmate caste system, ex-officers rank down near child molesters. They often are sentenced to a life of fear--shunned at best, attacked at worst. Officials must decide how to protect Koon, Powell.](http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-05/news/mn-20657_1_federal-prison-system) This gibes with what I’ve always heard. And what inmate wouldn’t like a shot at a symbol of The Man who put him in the pen? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/207 "2014-02-09T21:46:13Z")
IMO the reason bail was denied was that he has already snapped and killed someone over a common social interaction. What happens to the next retail clerk he thinks short changes him? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/208 "2014-02-10T01:38:29Z")
From the linked article, > [@a witness](#): > > “I’ll teach you to throw popcorn at me,” an eyewitness recalled the shooter, retired Tampa police Capt. Curtis Reeves, saying. That’s murder right there. The self defense argument just took a serious hit. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/209 "2014-02-10T01:47:13Z")
Your honor, my client was merely offering to help Mr. Oulson with his aim. He pulled out what he thought was his smart phone, with the intent to add Mr. Oulson as a contact, and tragically reached for his pistol by mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/210 "2014-02-10T05:12:58Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Your honor, my client was merely offering to help Mr. Oulson with his aim. He pulled out what he thought was his smart phone, with the intent to add Mr. Oulson as a contact, and tragically reached for his pistol by mistake. Dang, that’d be some good lawyerin’ right there. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/211 "2014-02-10T06:13:51Z")
Reeve’s statement will be very hard to overcome. The prosecutor said in court that statement made it 2nd degree murder instead of manslaughter. Reeve’s wife really hurt him too. You have to listen to her audio interview. She sounds so scatterbrained and unaware of what will happen to her husband. She did say the victim scared her, but not very forcefully. She didn’t make clear the threat she felt and that threat is what is needed for self defense. The deputy even testified he heard her chewing out Reeves saying, “there was no need to shoot him”. His own wife’s comment will probably be the most responsible for him spending the rest of his life in prison. Just for comparison. Zimmerman had the same Arthur hearing and he got bail. The judge must really feel this is an easy conviction to deny Reeves bail. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > From the linked article, > > That’s murder right there. The self defense argument just took a serious hit. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/212 "2014-02-10T06:46:13Z")
They showed a [surveillance video](http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/bail-hearing-resumes-this-morning-in-movie-theater-shooting/2164575) from the studio which directly contradict the statements Reeve made to the police. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/213 "2014-07-12T14:21:58Z")
"Retired Florida police captain charged with killing man in movie theater for texting released on bail Pasco County Judge Pat Siracusa set Curtis Reeves Jr.’s bail at $150,000. He said Reeves, 71, must remain home except to go to church, the doctor’s office or the grocery store. He also must surrender firearms." > **[Retired Florida police captain charged with killing man in movie theater for...](https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/fla-man-charged-fatal-movie-theatre-shooting-released-bail-article-1.1864106)** > > A former Florida police captain charged in a fatal movie theater shooting was released from jail Friday. Special treatment because he was an ex-cop? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/214 "2014-07-12T16:03:09Z")
Or maybe because he’s old. Or, most likely, a combination of both. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/215 "2014-07-12T16:45:06Z")
This is such a mess. I don’t think he should have been let out on bail,I think he is a danger to others. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/216 "2014-07-12T16:57:35Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > This is such a mess. > > I don’t think he should have been let out on bail,I think he is a danger to others. I doubt that he is a danger now. He’s essentially under house arrest and barred from contact with firearms. I just hope he is duly convicted and dies in prison. What’s a mess is the whole trend towards widespread open and concealed carry. This case and the Zimmerman case is a harbinger of times to come. Every minor conflict will now become an opportunity for deadly force. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/217 "2014-07-12T17:47:40Z")
Reeves deserved bail. He’s been a cop most of his adult life and served his community. He’s no danger to anyone. Especially since he’ll be under house arrest. He won’t be mingling with the public. I don’t know what will happen at the trial. But in the US people are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Reeves shouldn’t spend a year in jail waiting for trial. If he’s convicted then they can send him to prison. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/218 "2014-07-12T18:09:23Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > \He’s no danger to anyone.\ I’m not so sure about this; past events have made this statement debatable. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/219 "2014-07-12T20:52:06Z")
Why does it take 4 months from the bail hearing until he’s actually granted bail or not? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/220 "2014-07-12T21:03:15Z")
I believe he was originally denied bail and that denial was appealed. That process can take time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717.md?page=12)