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Man killed after dispute over texting in theater
FOX 13 ^ | 1-13-14 | Fox 13 Staff

Posted on 01/13/2014 9:11:20 PM PST by smokingfrog

A moviegoer lost his life inside a Pasco County theater Monday afternoon after a dispute over texting with a retired police officer.

According to the sheriff's office, the dispute happened before the 1:20 showing of 'Lone Survivor' had even gotten underway at the Cobb CineBistro at Grove 16 complex on Wesley Grove Blvd.

Investigators say two couples had gotten into an argument over noise.

"The victim was on his cell phone; he was texting. We believe he was making some kind of noise. This noise led to an altercation between the suspect and the victim," Sheriff Chris Nocco explained.

A witness recalled seeing the agitated man -- later identified by deputies as Curtis Reeves -- get up and leave in an apparent attempt to find a manager. When he came back alone, the argument escalated.

Charles Cummings told FOX 13 he heard the victim say he was texting his 3-year-old daughter before Reeves pulled out a pistol.

"Their voices start going up, there seems to be a confrontation, somebody throws popcorn, then bang, he was shot," said Cummings, who was there to celebrate his birthday. "I heard the victim say, 'I can't believe...,' then he fell on us."

"I asked if the guy was OK, and he started gurgling blood and then fell," recalled Cummings' son, who said he ran to call 911.

(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxtampabay.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: banglist; curtisreeves; donutwatch; fl; florida; shooting; tampa
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To: lee martell

The movie had not started


61 posted on 01/14/2014 4:48:54 AM PST by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: lee martell

Second it!


62 posted on 01/14/2014 4:49:57 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: bjorn14

Yep and they should be enforced by the theaters.


63 posted on 01/14/2014 4:51:58 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: JoeProBono

The bright light of the cell phone would be a BIG distraction.


64 posted on 01/14/2014 4:53:53 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: smokingfrog

after a dispute over texting with a retired police officer.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Does that mean they were conversating with each other?
Or non-verbally talking?

(The idiots that appear on the ‘judge’ shows are slowly replacing “I borrowed him some money” with “We were having a verbal discussion OR we were conversating”).

Like the woman complains about her husband thinking he is a refrigerator.
After explaining the problem she stated: “Anyway, he sleeps with his mouth open and the light keeps me awake”.


65 posted on 01/14/2014 4:56:50 AM PST by xrmusn (6/98 --STUPIDITY?: Lets remove warning labels so we can level the playing field.)
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To: dennisw

Squirrels are very smart and quick


This one is quick:

http://ninetymilesfromtyranny.blogspot.com/2013/12/squirrel-launcher.html


66 posted on 01/14/2014 5:22:52 AM PST by Peet (Oderint dum metuant)
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To: smokingfrog

Let’s get something straight. When you go into the movie theater shut your phone off. If someone tells you to shut it off, apologize and shut your phone off. If they pull a gun out don’t be a wise ass and say what are you going to do, shoot me? The answer could be yes, dumbass!


67 posted on 01/14/2014 5:28:02 AM PST by TheRhinelander
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To: Biggirl

Yep and they should be enforced by the theaters.


Friend of mine managed theaters for 15 or 20 years. He did his best and was known for kicking loud/rowdy patrons out and tresspassing them.

Once his asst mgr called police as a patron (a well-known anus) was *screaming* at my friend in the lobby. The jerk hauled off and punched him just as the police walked in — bad move.

I have been to a theater *once* in the past 20 years. They just are not a pleasant experience any more — if I want to hear some pus-for-brains speak the whole plot just before it happens, have my seak kicked for 2 hours, and freeze my *** off in a refrigerated room, I’ll go to the theater.


68 posted on 01/14/2014 5:50:46 AM PST by Peet (Oderint dum metuant)
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To: Peet

Not surprised.

I used to go to the movies when the man I had loved for many years was alive. I only went once to the movies a couple of months after he had passed, but being alone was not fun. Rather do the dvd myself now.

When the theaters are only good is when it is very, very hot during the summer months, but that is about it.


69 posted on 01/14/2014 5:56:35 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Peet

No wonder police more and more have to do movie theater enforcement work.


70 posted on 01/14/2014 5:58:18 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Fai Mao

I think that is a good idea in many instances. A theater a Church, a restaurant a school, maybe even a grocery or department store should all be able to block the signals if they want. I can see having to post a notice or something but I just get so tired listening to 1/2 of other people’s conversations.

<><><><

That’s a great idea. Now when the crazed killers come into the gun free zones, no one will be able to dial out for help.

I also enjoy laws intended to legislate common sense and courtesy.


71 posted on 01/14/2014 6:19:10 AM PST by dmz
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To: Vendome

Texting can be done quietly, but that bright Cellphone light will still pierce the darkness, and disturb the mood for a lot of people. If I could adjust my screen to show tiny white letters on a blackground, that may be tolerable, but for me that’s way too much fiddling.


72 posted on 01/14/2014 6:25:41 AM PST by lee martell
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To: Peet

that squirrel is not coming back!!! to mess with bird feeders etc


73 posted on 01/14/2014 6:47:47 AM PST by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
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To: TonyM

Texting in a darkened theater is very distracting.

<><><<>

It is not, however, a capital offense.

It’s amazing to me how many comments on this thread are about the victim’s behavior, which counts as an extremely minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things.

For God’s sake, according to the reports, the movie hadn’t even started yet.

We are really and truly focusing on the wrong person. The shooter absolutely deserves everything he gets and more.

We don’t get to kill people who simply annoy us.


74 posted on 01/14/2014 6:56:16 AM PST by dmz
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To: Biggirl

The bright light of the cell phone would be a BIG distraction.

<><><><><><><

Again, way to focus on the wrong thing. This issue is not about texting in the slightest. It is about an individual who is not in control of himself, thinking that a minor annoyance is a capital offense.


75 posted on 01/14/2014 7:01:24 AM PST by dmz
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To: dmz

But the shooter was/is a cop. Retired but still a cop. He is a member of the parasite [ruling ] class. He got lippy with him. Therefore, in the view of many on this forum and this thread, he got exactly what he deserved. The slave mentality runs deep on Free Republic, My FRiend.


76 posted on 01/14/2014 7:07:48 AM PST by sport
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To: Fai Mao

Yep - can’t let the Aurora Colorado shooting victims call the police, can we?

Can’t let someone keep the car warm while they call a tow truck, either?

Nope - and we don’t want a passenger to be able to communicate while the car is in motion?

Not to mention those drivers that use their headsets or in-car bluetooth. Nope - can’t let the communications get anywhere near someone being responsible, just because someone else might act irresponsibly - or even break the law (against distracted driving)!

/sarc for the sarcasm impaired


77 posted on 01/14/2014 7:24:23 AM PST by MortMan (Is a delayed shower a "stay of exablution"?)
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To: mylife

Reeves told a deputy that he was in fear of being attacked... (standard response)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/shot-tampa-bay-area-movie-theater-21517384


78 posted on 01/14/2014 7:32:52 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: who knows what evil?

Yep, same. I don’t even have a SMRT phone.


79 posted on 01/14/2014 7:48:49 AM PST by chris37 (Heartless.)
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To: smokingfrog; mylife

Re: ABC video.
Was the shooter wearing the white jump suit in the theater, or did the crime scene investigators put him in the jump suit to possibly preserve some evidence?


80 posted on 01/14/2014 7:54:47 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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