Curtis Reeves and attorney in a Florida courtroom.
Retired Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves shot and killed Chad Oulson after an argument in a movie theater. Reeves was
upset that Oulson, who was at the theater with his wife, was texting:
During the previews, a man sitting two seats away texted noisily on his phone. The man behind him, retired Tampa police officer Curtis Reeves Jr., asked him to stop several times.
Reeves left for a few minutes and returned. An argument erupted. Popcorn flew. Then, authorities said, Reeves pulled out a pistol and fired at the man.
Chad Oulson's wife was also grazed with the bullet when she tried to stop Reeves. Just before he was shot, Oulson told Reeves he was texting their youngest daughter. Curtis Reeves was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery. Now his lawyers say he will use Florida's batshit crazy
"stand your ground" defense:
In 2005, with strong support from the National Rifle Association, Florida's Legislature became the first to pass a "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force when they fear death or great bodily harm. If, after a hearing, a judge determines that the incident meets the criteria in the law, the shooter is "immune from criminal prosecution and civil action."
In 2012, when the Tampa Bay Times examined the "stand your ground" law, reporters found that a majority of those who invoked the law to avoid prosecution had been successful. Nearly 70 percent had gone free.
"I think we have a pretty solid stand your ground case," said Reeves' attorney, Richard Escobar, adding that he plans to file a formal motion within the next few weeks. A five-day hearing has already been scheduled for Jan. 25.
Because in Florida, getting popcorn thrown in your face means you may have the right to take someone's life and a deprive a family of their husband and father.
Video from the theater shows a near empty theater. One or both men could've easily just moved seats. There was no need for it to escalate to deadly, rage-filled violence.
Stay tuned as this case develops.