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."

[sport]

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.

Reeves has not retired then.

[a fool in paradise]

Did the shooter really go to the manager, or did he go to the car to get his gun?

This is Uncle Chip's unsubstanitated BS meme.

Produce the video of him leaving the building and heading to his car.

Find the evidence of theater staffers denying the shooter ever confronted them about a rude patron.

[Travis McGee]

And some douchebags just love the taste of black leather boots, and instinctively snap to attention and throw out their right arms anytime men in uniform go goose-stepping past.

[Onelifetogive]

I am ashamed of the response I see on Freerepublic about this (Check my signup - I am NO newby!)

Many on FR are prejudging this EXACTLY the same way the race-grievance industry prejudged Zimmerman. Zimmerman MUST be guilty because Trayvon was black and this shooter MUST be guilty because he’s an ex-cop.

I don’t know who is wrong here (and would NEVER presume to know based on the initial shoddy, biased reporting.) But TOO many on FR “know” what happened because of who the shooter was...

[Black Agnes]

I suspect, given the ex cop’s age, that there might be a degree of dementia involved as well. Preoccupation with something trivial, in this case texting (the account where he followed some woman to a restroom over it on a previous occasion), is one of the signs.

It isn’t as though the victim was talking on his phone in a disruptive and disturbing manner. I’ve been in movies where that was the case. And more than one person complained to management about it. I fully expect people to text during previews and even movies anymore. Most under 50’s are completely addicted to it. No one expects to get flack over it anymore. Especially since it wasn’t during the movie itself.

[a fool in paradise]

I asked about it (my post is long after yours though) because the articles I saw yesterday did not mention the off duty officer (or the pistol jamming).

[latina4dubya]

That the wife’s hand was shot shielding her husband is not a compelling argument to me.

that she was trying to shield her husband makes sense to me... it is a natural reaction... now my husband would have been mad at me if i had tried to shield him... my instructions are to move the hell out of the way... if he dies trying to defend us, then he dies... but he sure as heck does not want me to be harmed in the process... (same instructions to our kids)...

[kjam22]

The real issue here is “ex-cop bully who thought he could still order people to obey him.”

Agree

[latina4dubya]

That seems to have fallen into disregard as lots of people not so worthy of respect became elderly.

excellent...

[sport]

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

You are correct and if your aunt had been plumbed different, she would be your uncle.

[Homer1]

actually they were texting during previews...If it was such a problem, he could have switched seats...or they could have

[Uncle Chip]

We now have this:

Hamilton identified himself and grabbed the barrel of the gun, Greiner said. Reeves resisted initially, but then let go of the gun, Greiner said.

Greiner said the gun was jammed and could not have been fired again. He was unsure whether Reeves planned to fire a second shot.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that Reeves talked with a manager to complain about Oulson’s cell phone use, Detective Timothy Harris said.

“The manager said he was glad that he made him aware of it and (Reeves) returned to the theater,” Harris said.

The shooting happened, though, before the manager made it inside the theater to take action, he said.

http://tbo.com/news/crime/suspect-in-theater-shooting-goes-before-judge-today-20140114/

[a fool in paradise]

Thowing stuff at a victim is sometimes a technique to distract the victim's attention long enough for you to hit the victim with your fist or a weapon.

Yep, provides cover for a suckerpunch.

Maybe he should've just taken a beatdown as Trayvon's girfriend said about George Zimmerman.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“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.”

One of the things to consider before starting a confrontation while armed is how this will play before a jury. Grandpa seems to have a pet peeve about people using their phone in a theater. Rather than change seats he decided to say something. If the guy’s response was rude he could still try to de-escalate the situation, he didnt. He decided to rat the guy out to the manager. The texter is also being a D**K by not de-escalating this. This could have been easily avoided if either one would have been reasonable.

[TheRhinelander]

Prouder than yours is.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Stupid old man. He murdered this guy for texting during a movie trailer. He should die in prison.

[Usagi_yo]

Reads like the author feels ‘stand your ground’ and ‘self defense’ are one in the same. The shooter may have a case of self defense, but no way stand your ground.

[joethedrummer]

I’ve sat behind jokers who text throughout the movie. It is really annoying to have their phone light up every 10 seconds. But sheesh, not enough to engage them. Like most folks here have said, you just CHANGE SEATS.

I’ve also had a couple ‘road rage’ experiences with - RETIRED cops. Yes, they think THEY are gods; Don’t we know who they THINK they are??? How DARE I pass them??

I’m not knocking all cops. But I’ve witnessed enough abusing ones to not like them very much anymore. Which is a darn shame. I hope this clown doesn’t have ‘connections’ with the court and gets off easy.