Posted on 01/14/2014 2:04:00 PM PST by centurion316
A 43-year-old father was shot dead by a retired cop in a Florida cinema after a row about him texting his three-year-old daughter as they waited for the movie to start, witnesses said.
Chad Oulson was shot in front of his wife and horrified movie-goers during an argument with 71-year-old Curtis Reeves.
The victim's wife, Nicole, was injured in the shooting after holding her hands out to try to shield Mr Oulson during the confrontation at a movie theater near Tampa on Monday.
After Reeves fired at his chest the victim was heard saying: 'I can't believe I got shot', according to Fox News.
Reeves, who is facing life in prison if found guilty, has been charged with second-degree murder. During a hearing on Tuesday he appeared via video link, wearing a green suicide smock - a fire resistant outfit that can't be torn or turned into a noose.
The judge ruled he should be held without bond because of the severity of the charges, but the no bond ruling can't be confirmed until a live hearing with Reeves.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
If the ex-cop went out and got his gun, he should be executed by the State.
Sounds like he was prowling for phone users and looking for a fight.
WRONG
You don't know that he said anything to management.
He got up and left the auditorium and then came back in a little later without management and then continued the argument.
We do know that shortly after leaving the auditorium and returning, he used his gun.
Is that why he left the auditorium -- to get his gun from his car.
That would make this premeditated murder.
You're right!
If he was presented with a situation that he believed was an instant threat to great bodily harm or was life threatening he has been trained to respond instantly with deadly force. Not malarkey at all. All of the witnesses said the victim through a container of popcorn at him just before he got shot. The victim was in the row right below the shooter so there was maybe three feet between them.
Cops are trained to defend themselves, period. They make this decision in less than half of a second. He made the wrong decision but he did follow what he had been trained to do.
I’ll wait ‘til I see the full details, but until then:
1) Texting/phoning/etc. is what the LOBBY is for. I’m not sure about you, but EVERY movie in the recent past I’ve gone to see, the FIRST thing shown is the ‘Please turn off...’. It appears the victim lacked common courtesy.
2) 70+ yr old vs. 30+...yeah, THAT might be a reason to ‘fear for ones life’ (I haven’t seen/read of distances/confrontation/etc.)
3) Blows the whole ‘only cops’ meme from the Left
So far, it appears the cop is being charged (good)...
Maybe you felt like strangling him, but you did not blow him into next week.
But he came back after a few minutes and moments later, the argument between the two men resumed.
Officials said Mr Oulson asked Reeves if he reported him to management for using his phone.
I only know what I read. But if he did go get a gun that will have to be found out at a later date it not here in the text. I assume he always had it.
Concealed Carry Laws are not all equal. Can issue, shall issue, public place restrictions, etc. etc. etc., I’m sure that you know all of that. Most of these impediments do not apply to retired LEO’s. They have that privilege for a reason and I recognize their need to have it. But to deny it to other law abiding citizens brings the “you don’t need it” argument into the equation. Turns out that the dead guy did need it, and he had a right to it.
No they didn't.
The detectives said that nothing was thrown -- not even popcorn.
No doubt. I'll even concede that the guy was a complete jerk and we all get pissed off by this kind of behavior. But, I stop short of murdering people, way short.
Getting shot was bad enough, but getting truncated was unendurable.
I don't understand the argument you're trying to make here bro. We've already established the fact that virtually every state in this country now allows you and me the right to carry concealed weapons...(And as a side note, my state of Michigan also allows open carry without any permits whatsoever. But that's for another discussion.)
So what am I missing here?
That's for peasant concealed carry.
One of the first rules of modern American policing is to provoke confrontation, in order to assert authority over the peasant.
Grandpa was just following his training...
“due to the altercation that saw Reeves attacked first with a bag of popcorn.” From the article.
texting a THREE YEAR OLD? Seriously?
That's a reasonable theory.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Detective Timothy Harris said:
‘There were words that were exchanged but no phsyical contact [between Reeves and Mr Ouslon].’
Shooting a man is only one option. He could have shown some guts and switched seats.
Yes. One must always remember Kevin Costner's character in Open Range...
I think that he’s one of the tiny minority of CCW holders who lack the sense and self-control to hold his permit. Unfortunately it isn’t till a tragedy like this happens that they’re uncovered.
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