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 ...
Three-year olds text? I think most theatres have a screen shot of asking people to turn off their electronic device during the movie. This has happened before it will probably happen again, unfortunately.
If you’re gonna shoot, shoot. Don’t text.
So your passengers can't use their phones either?
Won’t catch me at a movie theater anymore unless it’s on a military base. To many assholes, prices are ridiculous and the whole cell phone BS. Last one I went to in town was in the early 90’s.
Only been to a few on base since then as well but at least on base, you stand for the national anthem, people are respectful and prices are reasonable otherwise I’ll wait for what I want to see come out on DVD, sit in my chair with a beer and enjoy the movie.
Yeah, in a sense. Our 4 year old has been doing it a while. She sends me random words she sees around the house along with pictures and videos of what interests her at the moment. Really excited to get a response. Her older brother and sister text, so she’s gotta do it too!
That is pathetic.
We went to the movies last week (to see this movie in fact) and people were talking loudly. However, once the movie began, they stopped. Might have happened here too.
Ditto. I don't text, either. Never have, never will.
Texting in a darkened theater is very distracting. The light emitted by the phone is very annoying, I guess that is why theaters ask you to cut off your dell phones. Problem is that today people have no regard for how their behavior affects others. When I was a kid going to the movies was enjoyable and if you even dared to wear a hat in the theater you would be told to leave. Today guys wear hats, talk continuously, and shine their brightly lighted phones. That is why I no longer go to the theater, nowadays it’s just not enjoyable.
Retired Tampa police officer — one of the “trusted” to have a weapon.
I feel the same about rude morons & their “wireless devices”
It is beyond senseless.
That is what got the man shot. The retired cop did not have a dog to shoot. The reason the cops shoot your dog is to demonstrate that anytime they please, they can and will do the same to you.
Audible keystrokes, as well as the various sounds indicating a message has arrived, can be quite loud and obnoxious.
I would not bet on it.
Mentioning his son’s record is the beginning of making the retired cop into the victim and the victim the aggressor.
Noisy texting???
Why not ban cars and movies and popcorn?
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