# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/221 "2014-07-12T21:47:59Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > "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 texting released on bail – New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/fla-man-charged-fatal-movie-theatre-shooting-released-bail-article-1.1864106) > > Special treatment because he was an ex-cop? He was denied bail. He had to go through a lengthy and I’m sure expensive appeal process while he was sitting in jail. He won the appeal. A high bail was set. Seems to me he probably would have received bail in the first place if it wasn’t a high profile case. Bail is not supposed to be a punishment. It is to ensure the defendant does not flee the jurisdiction. The judge put proper safeguards in place to ensure his appearance. He has no prior record. Ties to the community. He is elderly with health issues. There is no reason to not give bail. ---
**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, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/222 "2014-07-12T23:36:54Z")
I just have a really bad feeling about this Don’t claim _powers_,Just doesn’t feel safe. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/223 "2014-07-13T12:11:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I doubt that he is a danger now. He’s essentially under house arrest and barred from contact with firearms. (snip) You know who else was barred from contact with firearms? [This guy](http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/10/3557255/former-brunswick-county-sheriff.html), former Brunswick County Sheriff Ron Hewitt. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/224 "2014-07-13T14:29:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > He’s no danger to anyone. Unless you text in a movie he happens to be attending. Also it is disingenuous to claim he is innocent. From a legal standpoint, of course he is, but no one is disputing that he pulled out his gun and fired it killing a man. He may be found Not Guilty (and I predict that he will) but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a killer. ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/225 "2014-07-13T14:57:29Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Unless you text in a movie he happens to be attending. His bail conditions prohibit that. He’s allowed to go to the doctor, to church, and to his court hearings. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/226 "2014-07-13T15:17:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > 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. Let’s see: opinion, fact, opinion, fact… that last statement is neither opinion nor fact, tho. Or do you not consider the people at the grocery store “the public”? Perhaps, in your opinion, the people on the roads as he drives from his house to those places are not “the public”? :dubious: I’ve seen people text while at a red light; I hope this asshat doesn’t use the deadly weapon he’s driving to “hurry them up” or something. I’ve also seen people text in line at the grocery store; I hope that doesn’t set him off. I’m not convinced bail was the wrong thing to do, but I’m far from convinced it was the right thing to do either. > [@Acsenray](#): > > His bail conditions prohibit that. He’s allowed to go to the doctor, to church, and to his court hearings. …and the grocery store. Don’t forget the (possibly crowded) grocery store. ---
**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 13, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/227 "2014-07-13T16:03:07Z")
What exactly are you suggesting the court should have found? That he’s an out-of-control maniac who even while being under house arrest on bail on a charge of second degree murder presents the likelihood of using his shopping cart as a weapon at the Safeway? If he’s that level of nuts, I should think the court would have noticed, and also that he would be working on a decent insanity defense. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/228 "2014-09-10T15:50:23Z")
[Cite > [@](#): > > Judge Pat Siracusa set a March 2 trial date on Wednesday and said he wants to move the case along as quickly as possible for the sake of the families involved. Another hearing to confirm the date is set for Oct. 15. ]([http://bigstory.ap.org/article/judge-sets-trial-date-theater-shooting](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/judge-sets-trial-date-theater-shooting)) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/229 "2014-09-11T00:31:09Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Cite](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/judge-sets-trial-date-theater-shooting) Thanks for the bump. I’m interested to see how this plays out. I don’t see any way he will get away with it but you never know when it gets into the jury’s hands. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/230 "2014-09-11T01:09:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > 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. Perhaps not if you are an old white male ex-cop. But pal, I’ve got two words for you: Rikers Island. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/231 "2017-03-06T17:15:36Z")
did we ever hear how this turned out? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/232 "2017-03-06T17:22:10Z")
On [Friday](http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/curtis-reeves-two-week-stand-your-ground-hearing-comes-to-close-friday/2315212), both sides made closing arguments and the judge is expected to issue a ruling sometime this week. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/233 "2017-03-06T17:52:02Z")
Fascinating. I just happened on the thread while looking at some old threads and wondered what happened; had no idea it was still ongoing. So, this wasn’t the trial, if I understood the article? It’s a question of whether he has immunity under “stand your ground”? if the judge rules that immunity doesn’t apply, then he goes to trial? is that right? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/234 "2017-03-06T18:19:48Z")
That’s what I’m reading. [This article](http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/why-is-the-wesley-chapel-movie-theater-shooting-case-taking-so-long-to-go/2284256) tries to answer the question of why the case is taking so long to get to trial. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/235 "2017-03-12T16:59:33Z")
And he’s going to trial: [‘Stand your ground’ defense rejected in Florida theater-shooting case](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/10/judge-rejects-stand-your-ground-defense-in-florida-theater-shooting-case.html) > [@](#): > > A retired Florida police captain who is accused of shooting and killing another man during an argument over texting in a movie theater will face a trial after a judge rejected his “stand your ground” defense. > > Judge Susan Barthle ruled Friday the “stand your ground” law in Florida does not apply in the case of Curtis Reeves because he was not in any imminent danger of death when he shot 43-year-old Chad Oulson before a January 2014 movie screening, FOX 13 reported. > > “The physical evidence contradicts the defendant’s version of events,” Barthle wrote in her ruling. > > The ruling clears the way for Reeves to face jury trial and a second-degree murder charge. Apparently in the mind of the accused, popcorn is a deadly, life-threatening weapon; the judge disagreed. > [@](#): > > According to the retired police captain, Oulson threw popcorn at him and hit him in the head with a cell phone. > > … > > “I realized I was in a life-or-death struggle. He was no longer a loudmouth. He was a definite threat,” Reeves testified last week in a two-week hearing. “He was reaching for me. … He was getting ready to punch me. I perceived that. That’s when the pistol came out. … At that point, it was his life or mine.” ---
**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:** [March 12, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/236 "2017-03-12T17:08:29Z")
I’m quite surprised. I thought the legal threshold to prove fear of great bodily harm was quite low? Elderly man Darkish theater Very angry and big man, heard cursing loudly over the previews. His violent actions caught on video Seems like a fearful situation to me. GBH could easily occur in those circumstances. I’m only approaching sixty and would have pissed my pants. That was one big SOB that was acting extremely irrationally. Who the heck flips out like this in public? All because he’s asked to put up his cell phone? But, I ain’t da judge. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/237 "2017-03-12T21:04:50Z")
The beer yesterday was good, but I had only two, not three. Guinness is the way to go! This morning I got up early to bake cookies and little meatballs in sauce. I’d signed up to do the refreshments for after the second service at church. You should see the people at my congregation eat!. As long as you keep putting stuff out they keep eating. The meatballs were a hit, next time I could even make them a leetle smaller, to go further. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/238 "2017-03-12T23:37:29Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > The beer yesterday was good, but I had only two, not three. Guinness is the way to go! > > This morning I got up early to bake cookies and little meatballs in sauce. I’d signed up to do the refreshments for after the second service at church. You should see the people at my congregation eat!. As long as you keep putting stuff out they keep eating. The meatballs were a hit, next time I could even make them a leetle smaller, to go further. I want to assure some members of the MMP that the cookies were not in the meatball sauce. What kind of cookies were they? ---
**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:** [March 12, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/239 "2017-03-12T23:57:48Z")
So **Baker’s** moved to Florida, has she? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717/240 "2017-03-13T00:01:42Z")
I think it was the two beers. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-movie-theater-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-altercation-over-texting/678717.md?page=13)