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."

[jrd]

well the only good I see of this is maybe people will stop their cell phone use in the movie!

[Travis McGee]

Retired cop still thought he had the right to order folks around, and pulled a gun and shot when the victim didn’t.

[Tax-chick]

This is so frustrating, because each of the men could have chosen not to do what he did. The one could have decided texting during commercials wasn’t a big deal. The other could have said, “Sorry, I’m done now.” And so on.

They say, “An armed society is a polite society.” Maybe we’ll reach a point at which so many people are carrying guns that everyone realizes that any argument could turn deadly. Then maybe people will stop escalating every little dispute, because they’ll be viscerally aware that it’s just not worth it.

[Travis McGee]

Exactly. He’s an ex-cop who thought he was still allowed to order folks around at gun point.

[PLMerite]

“However, even an old SWAT officer ought not to have been in “fear of his life” from an attack by popcorn.”

Throwing something in an opponent’s face is a good opening move in a fight to blind, distract, or startle them, followed up by an attack or attempted disarm. A lot depends upon the details, especially how quickly after the popcorn barrage the shooting happened. Hemmed in by people in a row of theater seats, one is unable to retreat or flee.

Of course the shooter could just be a dumbass.

[Luke21]

CNN is already using it to accuse gun owners of being dangerous nuts.

[UCANSEE2]

Here is what I don’t get.

How does ‘texting’ bother other moviegoers ?

It would make more sense if he was TALKING on the phone, or had the SPEAKER on, but texting ? That makes no noise.

Gee... I remember the good ole’ days when People got new LED watches for Christmas and set the alarm to go off during the movie. No one got killed, that I remember.

[MrB]

Sounds like he had a big chip on his shoulder about texting, as well,

and also still thought he should have the power to intimidate people into complying with his will.

[IYAS9YAS]

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.

BZZZZT. Wrong. No prize for you.

[ryan71]

“I think he’s more to blame for his elitist attitude for being an ex-cop than he is for the instrument through which he punished someone else for not recognizing his elite status.”

Exactly what I was thinking.

[MrB]

The situation is actually more about a government agent who once had power over his fellow citizen

being a dangerous nut.

[Durus]

Picture yourself here. You carry a pistol for self protection. Someone in the theater is texting on a phone, you ask them politely to stop and they go off on you. You go and speak to the manager. When you come back the guy won't let it go, he is getting more and more irate, words get more and more heated, then he throws his bag of popcorn at you. What do you really think is going to happen next? Do you think he's suddenly going to come to his senses, apologies and offer to pay your dry cleaning bill? Throwing the popcorn was a clear escalation of force that went past a rational tipping point, the next step was going to be physical, even the aggressors wife was trying to hold him back. The elderly man clearly suspected what was going to happen next. He wasn't afraid of the popcorn, 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.

It might not have happened this way but it could have.

[MrB]

Thanks for seconding my opinion - I was hoping my statement wouldn’t lead to strife with my FRiend and fellow Spirko fan B-E.

[deport]

Another thread from yesterday with over 200 comment if anyone is interested.

'I can't believe I've been shot': Last words of man killed by retired police captain (truncated)

Police Report

[jocon307]

“Thowing stuff at a victim is sometimes a technique to distract the victim’s attention...”

Yes, that’s true, but (assuming the shooter really did feel that way) how about pulling your gun and not firing it immediately?

I think the one person here has a good point about the vic’s wife, that it is more likely she was restraining him (since I’m sure she knows she’s not Superwoman who can deflect speeding bullets with her bare hands); however in a situation like that one might make a gesture of protection without thinking about it.

However, I’m struck by what another person here said, did this man go to his car and get his gun? That would really paint him into a very bad corner.

There were a lot of other people in the theater, it seems the argument had not gotten so out of control that they noticed, at least until the popcorn was thrown. That’s a pretty quick escalation and not really the kind of behavior you expect to see from a trained person. It’s more like what would happen between some ghetto gangbangers.

Add to that the fact that there was likely NO REASON at all for this. The movie hadn’t even started! If he didn’t like who he was sitting near he & his wife should have just moved to different seats.

I hope they give the shooter a full medical workup, because it wouldn’t surprise me to find out he’s got some underlying issue, like a brain tumor or dementia, that made him behave in this irrational way.

You know, the texting guy might have been acting like a completely rude jerk, but you can’t kill people for that or the only 2 jobs left would be undertaker and grave digger.

[sport]

So was I. Their actions was changed me.

[AD from SpringBay]

However, even an old SWAT officer ought not to have been in “fear of his life” from an attack by popcorn.

Where do you reckon that old SWAT officer learned to say he was 'in fear for his life'? How many court appearances did he have when he used that line to justify a bit of excessive force? The world will never know.

Those must have been some excellent previews to grow that upset by someone texting during them.

[Anton.Rutter]

Clearly he had no problems intimidating women who texted without his permission. Perhaps he’d be better off murdering them...much less “frightening” for him. /s

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“This is NOT even close to the “poor little st. trayvon” case. This is MURDER. Plain and simple.”

Probably.

“I have not seen where the Manager confirms any contact. This EX-PIG went to the car and got the gun, came back and Murdered this Man.”

Thats called jumping to conclusions. We dont know if he left the theater to get his gun or just couldnt find a manager.

[Travis McGee]

The real angle is “ex-cop bully with authority issues.”