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Retired police officer charged in texting killing
1/14/2014 9:43:52 PM
- NEW: Reeves' attorney calls Oulson the "aggressor"
- Bond denied for Curtis Reeves in movie theater shooting
- 'I can't believe I got shot' Oulson says before collapsing, according to witness
- Neighbor says suspect was a nice guy, didn't get angry, CNN affiliate reports
(CNN) -- A 71-year-old ex-Florida cop stared silently into a closed-circuit camera Tuesday, listening to his defense attorney and a judge go back and forth on whether he should be charged with second-degree murder.
Curtis Reeves told Pasco County authorities that he fired his .380 semi-automatic handgun in a movie theater Monday afternoon at a man with whom he'd been arguing because Reeves was upset that the man was texting on his cellphone as previews ran.
The victim, Chad Oulson, 43, was killed and his wife was wounded.
Reeves' attorney, Richard Escobar, argued that because Reeves has lived in the area for many years, has a wife and two children and a grandchild, worked in law enforcement and security, attends church and Bible study, and has ailments such as arthritis and bursitis, he should be given bond. The courtroom was filled with Reeves' former colleagues and family members who could speak to his client's "great character," Escobar said, adding that Reeves has "no propensity toward violence."
The attorney tried to persuade Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper that the former police officer was actually the victim in the incident and that Oulson was the "aggressor."
Tepper said there was no evidence to support that claim, according to a probable cause affidavit. She denied bond and ruled that Reeves should face the second-degree murder charge. She also said that if Reeves wanted to forgo appearing in person in court again, he and his attorney would have to get permission to do so by another judge who will handle the case.
The judge addressed Reeves and asked him if he understood what had happened and that he was facing life in prison, to which Reeves said he did. Reeves' attorney then said that he and his client would speak in private, indicating that the former officer should not say anything in court.
An argument over texting, then a shot
The shooting happened Monday afternoon at the Grove 16 theater in the Tampa suburb of Wesley Chapel just before an afternoon showing of "Lone Survivor," a film about a Navy SEAL mission.
Reeves was with his wife and sat behind Oulson and his wife, authorities said. Chad Oulson was using his cell phone and Reeves told him to put it away, according to police and witnesses.
The two men began to argue and Reeves walked out of the theater. Police said Reeves was going to complain to a theater employee, according to the police report.
When Reeves returned, witnesses and authorities said that Oulson asked him if he had gone to tell on him for texting. Oulson reportedly said, in effect: I was just sending a message to my young daughter.
Charles Cummings and his adult son were two seats away. Cummings said that when Reeves returned to the theater, there was no manager with him.
"He came back very irritated," Cummings recalled.
Voices were raised. Oulson threw a bag of popcorn at Reeves, according to a police report. Then, the former police officer took out a .380 semi-automatic handgun and shot Oulson.
Oulson's wife Nicole raised her hand just before the shot was fired, authorities said, and the bullet went through her hand and into her husband's chest.
As Oulson staggered and fell, "He said, 'I can't believe I got shot," the younger Cummings recounted. "Blood started coming out of his mouth. I was trying to hold him up. He just fell down."
"I can't believe people would bring a pistol to a movie," said the elder Cummings, a Vietnam War veteran who was celebrating his birthday by spending the afternoon with his son.
Nicole Oulson suffered a non-life threatening wound. Her husband died after being taken to the hospital.
An admission and chaos in a theater
During an interview with Reeves after his arrest, and after the former cop was read his Miranda rights, he admitted to firing his weapon at the victim because "he was in fear of being attacked," according to the police report.
Reeves told police that Oulson had hit him with what the police report describes as an "unknown object."
During Reeves' first appearance Tuesday, his attorney argued that Oulson was the "aggressor."
"It may or may not have been popcorn..." Judge Tepper said, but an unknown object "does not equal" taking out a gun.
Witnesses told police they saw no punches being thrown during the incident, according to the report.
There were 25 people in the movie theater. After the shooting, some made valiant efforts to help Oulson and to make sure no other people were hurt.
An off-duty deputy sheriff from Sumter County rushed over to make sure no more shots were fired and that the shooter was not going to get up.
One of two nurses in the audience ran to Oulson's side and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. An autopsy will be conducted Tuesday.
A sensational crime that strikes many chords
A former cop and security worker
Reeves retired in 1993 as a captain with the police department in nearby Tampa. He was also director of security at Busch Gardens until 2005, a spokesman told CNN. Police told CNN that Reeves was instrumental in establishing the police department's first Tactical Response Team.
Reeves' son, Matthew Reeves, currently works for the department as a patrol officer, CNN affiliate WTSP and the Tampa Tribune report.
CNN is attempting to obtain Curtis Reeves' full law enforcement employment record.
After court Tuesday, reporters circled Escobar as he headed to his car.
Escobar said that Reeves has "great credentials" and called him a "great man."
"Certain circumstances happened in that theater," the attorney said, and those details would come out at trial, he said.
"Mr. Reeves is certainly heartbroken," that someone lost their life, the lawyer said.
A neighbor told Bay News 9 that Reeves is a nice guy.
"Always smiling. I've never seen him angry," Bill Costas said. "If I needed help with something, he was always there."
Costas said he feels bad for the wives and families of both men.
Who is Curtis Reeves?
Who was the texting dad?
Chad Oulson was a former U.S. Navy Petty Officer, serving from 1990 to 1997, according to spokeswoman Lt. Richlyn Neal.
Tuesday morning, a woman who said she was Oulson's sister answered the door at his home in the Tampa suburb of Land O' Lakes, the Tampa Tribune reported.
She told a reporter that the family is in shock and declined to comment.
In the home's garage, the Tribune reporter said, a motocross motorcycle was on a stand next to a gold pickup truck and a child's wagon.
"He loved his job, loved his family, loved motocross, loved the motorcycle world," friend Joseph Detrapani told the newspaper. "He grew up riding motocross and loved to keep doing it, even at his age of 43, he's still out there every weekend riding in East Bay and all that."
Rules for the theater
Meanwhile, Cobb Theatres, which operates the Grove complex, released a statement: "This was an isolated altercation between two guests that escalated unexpectedly. The safety, security and comfort of our guests and team members are always our top priorities, and we are truly heartbroken by this incident."
A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed.
Guns in theaters
CNN's Suzanne Presto contributed to this report.
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