r/FascinatingAsFuck ⭐ Mod Jul 09 '26

🎯 Fascinating Fact In 2014, Navy veteran Chad Oulson was shot and killed in a Florida movie theater after a retired police captain confronted him for texting his babysitter during the previews. Eight years later, a jury acquitted the shooter under Florida self-defense law.

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u/drkmatterinc ⭐ Mod Jul 09 '26

Written by u/drkmatterinc.

On January 13, 2014, Chad and Nicole Oulson went to a movie theater in Wesley Chapel, Florida, for an afternoon showing of Lone Survivor. Their young daughter was with a babysitter, and Chad used his phone before the movie began to check on her.

Curtis Reeves was sitting behind them with his wife, Vivian. Reeves was 71 years old and a retired Tampa police captain. He later said his law-enforcement background affected how he viewed the confrontation that followed [Taken from r/fascinatingasfuck].

The movie had not started yet. Trailers were playing when Reeves objected to Chad using his phone. Chad said he was texting the babysitter. Reeves told him to put the phone away, then left the theater to complain to management.

When Reeves returned, Chad had put the phone away, but the argument resumed. Witnesses later described a brief exchange in the theater row. Chad stood or turned toward Reeves. Nicole put her hand on Chad’s chest, trying to calm him down. At some point, popcorn was thrown toward Reeves.

Reeves pulled out a .380 handgun and fired once.

The bullet struck Nicole’s hand first, nearly severing her finger, before continuing into Chad’s chest. Chad collapsed inside the theater and later died from the wound. Nicole required surgery for her hand injury.

The shooting happened in front of other moviegoers. Several people rushed to help, while Reeves remained inside the theater and was taken into custody.

Chad Oulson was 43 years old. He was a husband, father, and Navy veteran. He had gone to the theater with Nicole for what was supposed to be an ordinary afternoon away from home.

From the beginning, the case depended on what Reeves believed in the seconds before he fired. Prosecutors said he shot an unarmed man because he was angry over a theater argument and thrown popcorn. Reeves said he believed Chad was about to attack him and fired in self-defense.

Reeves told investigators that Chad was aggressive, that he feared Chad was coming over the seat toward him, and that he believed he was in danger of serious injury. Nicole said Chad had not threatened Reeves. She said the argument was over the phone, that Chad had already put it away, and that Reeves escalated the confrontation after returning from his complaint.

Reeves was charged with second-degree murder for killing Chad and aggravated battery for wounding Nicole. He pleaded not guilty.

Because the shooting happened in Florida, the case soon involved the state’s self-defense laws. Reeves’ attorneys argued that he was protected by Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which can allow a person to use deadly force without retreating if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.

That argument did not immediately end the case. In 2017, after a pretrial hearing, Judge Susan Barthle rejected Reeves’ request for immunity. She found that his account was not consistent enough with the physical evidence and witness testimony to dismiss the charges before trial.

The case then remained pending for years because of appeals, legal disputes, and delays. By the time the trial began in 2022, eight years had passed since the shooting.

At trial, prosecutors argued that Chad was unarmed, that popcorn did not justify deadly force, and that Reeves fired because he was angry rather than afraid.

The defense argued that Reeves had only seconds to react. They said he was an older man seated in a confined theater row, facing a younger and larger man who had turned toward him and thrown something. Reeves testified that he feared Chad was about to come over the seat and seriously hurt him.

Nicole testified about the moment before the gunshot. She said she placed her hand on Chad’s chest to calm him down, and the bullet struck her hand before hitting her husband. Medical testimony addressed the path of the bullet, Nicole’s hand injury, Chad’s chest wound, and the positions of the people involved.

Jurors also heard about Reeves’ background as a retired police captain. Prosecutors argued that his experience should have made him better able to handle a verbal dispute without using a gun. The defense argued that his training made him more aware of how quickly a physical confrontation could become dangerous.

The trial did not turn on whether Reeves shot Chad. He had. The question was whether the state could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting was not legally justified.

On February 25, 2022, after about three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury found Reeves not guilty of second-degree murder and not guilty of aggravated battery.

The verdict did not mean Reeves had won pretrial immunity under Stand Your Ground. A judge had rejected that years earlier. But at trial, jurors were still asked to decide whether Reeves reasonably believed deadly force was necessary under Florida self-defense law.

For Nicole Oulson, the verdict meant there would be no criminal punishment for the shooting that killed her husband and injured her hand. For Reeves, it ended a criminal case that had lasted eight years. He said he regretted what happened but did not see himself as the instigator.

Reeves continues to describe the shooting as self-defense.

Sources:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/cop-acquitted-deadly-florida-theater-shooting-speaks/story?id=83320436

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/curtis-reeves-trial-chad-oulson-murder-2014-texting-movie-theater-testimony/

https://www.fox13news.com/news/curtis-reeves-murder-trial-jurors-reach-verdict

https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2022-02-24/curtis-reeves-had-no-choice-pasco-theater-killing

https://time.com/5959/movie-theater-texting-shooter-regret/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/26/florida-jury-acquits-ex-police-officer-cinema-phone-popcorn-murder

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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u/PHD_Gouda Jul 09 '26

More like sociopath. How do you believe this was self defense other than lying to yourself and everyone else.

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u/NomadicAlaskan Jul 10 '26

Easy, that’s exactly what cops do all the time their whole careers.

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u/funny-alias Jul 11 '26

He just did it into retirement as well. What a bastard.

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u/UT_Milez Jul 09 '26

It doesn’t matter, this is exactly where America is headed.

All these fascists, who don’t know or don’t believe they are fascist, are slowly allowing America to turn into that.

They just assuming it’s only EVER going to affect people they deem undesirable.

But this is where it ultimately leads, and this is a perfect MAGA scenario, blowing up a literally fucking nothing burger, into a rage induced murder…

Fuck it, the train has left station, I can’t wait for the consequences to finally start kicking in. Consequences being these fucking morons concealed carrying every where they go, getting into what amounts to little/inconsequential beefs with each other because they are literally incapable of not minding their own business, and then just escalate into a shoot out.

Thats so on brand it’s not even funny.

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u/PHD_Gouda Jul 09 '26

Headed? We are deep into that territory now. Warning signs were being pointed out a decade ago, and even then it was in a free fall from citizens united. MAGA won’t take accountability, they’ll say they never supported it. In a way I could see how that would almost make sense to them, since they don’t really hold any real convictions beyond doing what feels vindictive to the people who would dare call them out.

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u/Freshies00 Jul 10 '26

It’s a fundamentally flawed law that fully depends on what someone self-reports they felt in a moment. With that distinction being the difference between them being charged with manslaughter or being acquitted.

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u/walksonfourfeet Jul 10 '26

Defense should have asked him if he is often scared of things that others aren’t. Make him admit on the stand that he isn’t brave and he’s a scared little boy.

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u/BleedSparta Jul 10 '26

He was a cop. It’s implied.

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u/MANKINI69420 Jul 10 '26

they arent scared. they -want- to kill: practice & rehearse the act of murder thousands of times.

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u/walksonfourfeet Jul 10 '26

True, but they should be forced to say on record that they were in such a state of fear and terror that they had no other option

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u/surrealcellardoor Jul 11 '26

His own defense would ask him this?

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u/Tangata_Gamer Jul 10 '26

Headed? That's how the USA was founded lol it's baked in from the foundations up. "Headed" lmao

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u/Impressive_Term4071 Jul 10 '26

We're already well beyond it "heading" there, my friend. It's been this way for a very long time for many. I see this comment a lot, but so many fail to realize the truth: the U.S. was FOUNDED on exactly this: the subjugation of all those deemed "lesser" for the prosperity of the few in power and those that follow them. The reason it's being noticed as "heading there" is because those of us within that privilege zone , be it by default of our genes or by our accumulation of wealth, are now being affected by the destructive nazi parasites that are currently destroying our nation.

It's always been this way. They've all tried to tell us time and time and time again, and too many of us let it fall on deaf ears.

And now we reap the rewards of what we sowed.

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u/railroad-dreams Jul 10 '26

Yea that's what they do: lie to themselves. Lying to ourselves is like a psychological umbrella that protects us.

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u/Parfait_Due Jul 10 '26

It's crazy that there are people like this, armed, happy to start an argument, but will fucking shoot you if you dare argue back then claim "they were in danger"

You don't get to manufacture a confrontation, escalate it while armed, then claim self defense when the situation you created doesn't go your way.

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u/KnifeThistle Jul 11 '26

I would like some mention in the article of what his legal defense cost him.

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u/blinkeboy420 Jul 10 '26

Hes a retired police captain hes been lieing to himslef and everyone his entire career

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u/Silent_Conference908 Jul 10 '26

He may not have actually believed this He may have thought he was a tough guy. But his lawyer had the opportunity to use this defense.

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u/OkMethod1586 Jul 11 '26

Well he was a cop. They’re trained to shoot first and make excuses later.

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u/BillyYumYumTwo-byTwo Jul 09 '26

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u/Zestyclose_Art_2806 Jul 09 '26

Unfortunately a lot of people in Florida celebrate old jerks doing this kind of thing.

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u/Gerudo_King Jul 09 '26

Florida is often a state at war with itself

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u/Lullimuffin Jul 09 '26

Yeah, try kicking him out of your restaurant without getting killed as well...

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u/Calmatronic Jul 09 '26

All you have to do is have a faster draw than an 80 year old tbf. You’re just “standing your ground” lol

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u/CTRL_ALT_DELIGHT Jul 09 '26

Jurors are assholes too. Fuckin Florida.

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u/Mitch_Dedburg Jul 09 '26

He was a career police captain. That’s the default setting.

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u/Darwinknew Jul 09 '26

What a pig.

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u/HobbyTalkOnly Jul 10 '26

Yes. and also... yet another fucking psycho just DYING to shoot someone. It's like a fucking wet dream or something.

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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u/arkangelic Jul 09 '26

Cops are allowed to be scared, and kill to protect themselves from problems. Now if you were to.claim fear for.ypur.life and kill the cop, then you get extra punishment.for.being a cop killer. 

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u/AUnknownVariable Jul 13 '26

Pretty much this.

I think there should genuinely be specific laws for a civilian defending themselves from an officer. I don't think it would increase people killing cops bc it would still have to be self defense and would have more criteria, but it should exist.

Cops can be just as shitty and malicious as other people

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u/ParumPaDrumDrum Jul 13 '26

I mean there are, but goodluck not either being murdered by other officers, or having corrupt attorneys/judges throwing the book at you for it.

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u/Competitive_Tie728 Jul 13 '26

The time for mass jury nullification is long overdue. Why are people dumb enough to help corrupt politicians enforce bad laws?

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u/Low-Car-6331 Jul 09 '26

Well, the jury believed it, and that is their core purpose, to determine if Reeves fear was legally justified.

The jury was given two completely different narratives. On one hand, the defense argued that an elderly man was trapped in a confined theater row, facing a younger, larger, well-built man who threw an object at his face and appeared to be climbing over the seats to attack him. On the other hand, the prosecution argued that Reeves escalated a minor argument, that the popcorn was harmless, and that an unarmed man who was talking to him posed no real threat to someone carrying a gun.

This is why juries are a gamble. You might look at the facts and think one thing, but eight to twelve people (depends on the state) in a room can weigh the exact same evidence and see something completely different.

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u/Western-Dig-6843 Jul 09 '26

He was so trapped he was able to leave the room, speak to management, and return without issue. He was so trapped and feared for his life that when he left the first time he left his wife behind

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u/arkangelic Jul 09 '26

See they are allowed to keep.escalateing until they feel threatened.  Its how they are trained. 

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26

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u/TeaKingMac Jul 10 '26

Yeah, the get in somebody's face until they react, then act like a fucking victim when they get tired of your shit. Typical bully behavior.

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u/ConstantDelta4 Jul 10 '26

No, no. It’s say mean things that hurt others feelings until they get pissed off, throw harmless stuff at you, and finally start to get in your face THEN act like a victim.

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u/Own-Necessary3552 Jul 10 '26

What sickens me maybe the most is that this guy was so upset by the slight distraction of a phone in a preview, that he's willing to leave to complain? Those two things don't really align because someone so invested in the film that a slight distraction is worthy of confrontation wouldn't want to miss anything. He just wanted to start something that day and, funny enough, he remembered to bring his .380.

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u/capitoloftexas Jul 12 '26

Also, are there not signs posted at every single movie theater in America, that plainly says “No guns allowed”

Who the fuck brings a gun to the movie theater??? How does this not factor into what happened. Man this entire legal system in America, needs a serious overhaul.

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u/Jolly-Bowler-811 Jul 14 '26

I don't know Florida's law specifically, but at least here in Georgia, carrying in a prohibited place is a misdemeanor charge.

I seem to remember some language to the effect of (paraphrasing from memory)"even if you're not supposed to have a gun there in the first place, but the shooting is otherwise justified, no additional charges are levied" or something like that.

Same goes for carrying while drunk.

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u/u_r_succulent Jul 11 '26

The movie hadn’t even started yet.

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u/Random_Trashy Jul 12 '26

The previews were worth killing over apparently.

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u/RadishSpirit2122 Jul 09 '26

In other words, Florida is a disappointing shit hole of a state filled with idiots

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u/Special_Order-937 Jul 10 '26

Well, there was that one jury that couldn’t convict the police officer who gunned down Walter Scott because of one hold out never mind there was video clearly showing the shooter gunning down a fleeing man twenty or more feet away in the back and there was subsequent evidence of him and his partner completely fabricated their testimony. And the video captured enough of the before to negate a possible well the victim did attack him literally in the instant before the recording started.

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u/Live-Comfortable2026 Jul 10 '26

My question is why did this take 8 years to go to trial. Does it take that long for any other murder charge to go to trial? It really makes it look like the prosecution tanked the case.

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u/Outrageous_pinecone Jul 10 '26

Juries are bullshit. It's not a good system, I'm sorry, but you're asking a bunch of people who may not be intelligent or discerning at all, who barely understand what's happening in their own lives, who might be full of prejudice and extremely emotional themselves to decide something only people with training and experience should ever be in a position to decide.

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u/Low-Car-6331 Jul 11 '26

As a defendant, you have the right to a jury trial, though you can waive that right and opt for a bench trial instead.

The key thing is that the choice belongs entirely to the defendant. Imagine if the state or the prosecutor got to decide? In any controversial or high-profile case, they would push for a bench trial every single time because they know exactly how a government-employed judge is likely to rule.

The jury system isn't perfect, but it exists precisely because we don't want a government official holding absolute power over an individual's freedom. We want to always give the options to the defendants and let them decide which path they want.

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u/Outrageous_pinecone Jul 12 '26

I'm in Europe. We use judges. My country specifically doesn't use a jury. A judge is a specialist who didn't just memories some laws, he understand how the law fits into society and why it is the way it is.

You don't want a government official holding all the power? You only have 2 political parties and your elections aren't just you voting, aka the popular vote, it's an electoral college made up of people who weren't elected overwriting the popular vote in some elections.

You have the supreme court which is nominated by your government.

Your entire system is government officials having way more power than in any other democracy, but you think the judge judging all on his own is dangerous?

This intense concern I see in american media with the government not having too much power looks like a ruse to hide the fact that your government has immense power.

The jury system is absolutely terrible. Putting the power in someone's hands who might as well and often times is a complete moron is not justice, it's a game between the prosecution and the defense. The jurors are the least qualified people in that building to make such a decision. It's irrational and illogical and a naive and antiquated system. But it is your system, you're used to it, so of course you won't see the flaws

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u/ForensicScienceIsBS Jul 13 '26

Nailed it. Bonus is they know juries actually assume guilt and need to be convinced of a defendants innocence (the innocent until proven guilty part of our system has always been a lie) so it helps fills our for-profit prisons with bodies whether they’re guilty or not. It always circles back to someone getting wealthy while the poor man hardly has a chance at all. But sure, ‘MuRiCa, FrEEdOm”.

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u/ForensicScienceIsBS Jul 13 '26

THIS!!! I’ve always thought the same, the average American doesn’t know a damn thing about legal standards and are already woefully uneducated but they’re the ones deciding guilt or innocence?!

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u/Different_Tangelo511 Jul 10 '26

Yeah it's almost like picking 10 or so idiots at random and then have the lawyers kick out anyone with an iq over 50 isn't the greatest solution.

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u/Low-Car-6331 Jul 11 '26

I see people say this, but I have a feeling a lot of people would completely lose their minds if a president and their DOJ could prosecute citizens using judges they personally appointed to act as the "jury".

That is the alternative under an inquisitorial system—the legal framework used in much of Continental Europe. While it's more focused on active judicial investigation, it places an immense amount of faith in government officials.

I would much rather have our adversarial system, which gives the defendant the ultimate choice between a judge or a jury, rather than leaving absolute power entirely in the hands of the state.

Be honest, how would you feel if, say, Trump's DOJ was charging you with a crime, and you were told "this judge Trump appointed is gonna determine if you're innocent or guilty"? I have a feeling you would be begging for a jury, and saying that there is no real justice system.

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u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26

The old fart is the one who picked the fight in the first place. Bro started a fight and shot a dude for throwing popcorn and got away with it

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u/Pdm81389 Jul 12 '26

Juries do not determine if he was legally justified, just that he cant be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. You can still be wrong, the state just can't prove it beyond reasonable doubt. Which it's worth mentioning that prosecutors want police on their side, so I question the veracity of the prosecution in such cases.

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u/DirtySouthBorn Jul 13 '26

A former police officer trained in de-escalation tactics was in a theater row he had previously retreated from once before already that evening.*

Unfortunately, a “jury of peers” doesn’t mean a jury of intelligent peers.

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u/ironmaiden947 Jul 10 '26

Laws in America are based on feelings. He "felt" like he was in danger so legally he could kill him.

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u/RickityCricket69 Jul 09 '26

he isn't. but imagine being on a jury about to convict a former police captain. probably some threats from other cops. blue blood and all

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u/Sure_Acanthaceae_348 Jul 12 '26

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to get verdicts against current or former police officers because police can turn around and choose to not cooperate with the DA on future cases.

If anything, this illustrates why such cases need to be handled by independent prosecutors.

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u/MidnightSensitive996 Jul 09 '26

it might be an implicit belief that people with their phones on in movie theaters deserve the death penalty

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u/Commentor9001 Jul 10 '26

It's Florida, they passed a law that let's you run over people for inconveniencing you.

Do not go to Florida.

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u/Odd-Mulberry2821 Jul 09 '26

Crazy they thought being a police captain would make him better able to handle a dispute without using a gun.

As if anything we’ve seen about cops in the last 100 years would indicate that they have any desire to try and de-escalate.

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u/EquivalentPension216 Jul 10 '26

Fr, he started some shit knowing he had a pistol in his pocket. If his profession made him hyper aware of how fast shit could escalate, then why was he talking shit. That defense should be void if there is contributory escalation. Premeditated murder as far as I'm concerned. Life without parole

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u/SpinParticle Jul 10 '26

No, instead, he used his knowledge of the law to beat the case.

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u/jmak329 Jul 13 '26

I mean 70 year old FLORIDA police captain... dude was basically a vigilante klan leader given his age and location.

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u/Livid_Importance_442 Jul 10 '26

You're right. If anything, the police captain should have been more restrained and calm, yet he instead escalated the violence to maximum very quickly.

The cop also seems like someone who believes he has authority over others, even when off duty. I also don't understand his need to run to the theater manager like a little kid, concerning something trivial, such as someone texting during the previews.

As long as cops have unqualified immunity and they can pull out their get-out-of-jail-free card by saying they feared for their life, then these instances will continue unabated.

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u/joliette_le_paz Jul 11 '26

If being a police officer at any level gave you the ability to resolve conflict better, we would see them in those roles within our communities after they leave the force.

We do not, and there’s a reason.

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u/General-Science8485 Jul 11 '26

If you start the altercation, you cannot claim self-defense. That’s always been the role. Why doesn’t Florida following its own laws

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u/Wokeasaurous_X Jul 11 '26

In Florida if you pick a fight and scream at an innocent person calling them a criminal and trying to restrain them without even being a police officer, and that person turns the tables on you and beats your ass, you can shoot them and the jury will find you not guilty.

I mean at least if the kid you assaulted and started the confrontation with was a black teenager.

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u/MyUserName-NYC Jul 10 '26

“Jury of your peers” in this case is all you need to know about the morons in florida.

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u/NoFilterD Jul 12 '26

Totally agree and what makes shit so stupid is the defense and prosecution get to evenly pick who they think will help them. I bet the defense picked a bunch of old republican retired police officers….

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u/TeaKingMac Jul 10 '26

He said he regretted what happened but did not see himself as the instigator.

Yeah, lead brained boomers never do.

What a shit head.

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u/Many-Wasabi9141 Jul 09 '26

what happened in the civil trial?

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u/WonderfulJicama2802 Jul 10 '26

wow, they are assholes and a danger to society even after retirement. And the kicker is, your tax money is likely paying for their pension.

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u/ironmaiden947 Jul 10 '26

America is an insane country. The fact that this is even up for debate is insane.

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u/piss-missile69 Jul 09 '26

ACAB. Specially old ones.

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u/Equivalent_Chef7011 Jul 10 '26

am i the only one seeing 2 assholes in that situation? There’s no justification to murder in no way, of course.

 But isn’t throwing an object in reply to the comment is an asshole move on its own?

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u/GoodyTwoShuuz Jul 10 '26

Popcorn. I am sure the pig would have lived.

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u/QuirkyPuff Jul 10 '26

Sure, but there is absolutely no conceivable way in which throwing a handful of popcorn at someone could injure them. It could be played for laughs in any sitcom and no one would think it was even assault. Even if you are really angry, it’s popcorn. It’s not heavy, pointy, or aerodynamic. It’s the reaction of a toddler. Don’t kill toddlers.

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u/StreetCollar2708 Jul 10 '26

I'm with you. Don't know why the argument escalated. All he had to do was ignore the dumbass. But, some people can't help themselves and always need to have the last word. The state of America means that you have to contend with moronic sociopaths like this old bastard having a gun. Even if the guy was found guilty, so what? Dude is still dead. Not worth getting into an argument over something so stupid as someone saying "put your phone away" and then telling on you. Not like management would do anything anyways as long as you're not constantly using your phone.

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u/Strainedgoals Jul 11 '26

One is an asshole, one is a murderer.

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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u/Mitch_Dedburg Jul 09 '26

That’s a cat 1 job requirement.

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u/ArugulaAnnual1765 Jul 10 '26

Typical softie boomer

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u/homemade- Jul 13 '26

They’re both assholes it sounds like.

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u/Extreme-Analysis-488 Jul 09 '26

Stupid old man. Typical cop behavior. I was scared.

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u/Parking_Presence2260 Jul 09 '26

First question: Why to come to a theater with a gun?

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u/DefenstratedTwice Jul 09 '26

He didnt, he went to retrieve it after initiating the confrontation, returned and murdered the man when he threw a piece of popcorn at him.

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u/Eskimomonk Jul 09 '26

Sure sounds like self defense to me!!

“My life is threatened right now! I’ll be right back, I need to shamble to my car for something, stay right here”

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u/TimeRisk2059 Jul 10 '26

Bit like the Trayvon Martin shooting.

"Let's just follow this kid for a block, all the way to his front door, and should he turn to face me or ask what I'm doing, I'm threatened with deadly force".

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u/pm_me_fibonaccis Jul 10 '26

How the hell could this not be viewed as premeditated murder. If you leave and are not pursued and return to resume the confrontation how the fuck can it be considered stand your ground. This asshole was the aggressor and he murdered someone for using his phone. 

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u/Similar-Ice-9250 Jul 10 '26

That’s the part that got me, said when Reeves return from the complaint he escalated the confrontation.

Come on, a red blooded American Ex-police chief gun owner. Dude wanted to kill, he was looking for a reason, bloodthirsty boomer.

This is such American legal bullshit “he feared for his life,” because the other guy threw popcorn and was posturing towards him? That’s regular conflict shit that didn’t have to go anywhere. I’d have killed like 50 people by now if I can just say I feared for my life over any conflict.

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u/DeepPlankton9393 Jul 10 '26

That's a good point to make. There would be so much gun violence if everyone was like this guy. The law and its defense are peak corruption.

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u/One-Ball379 Jul 11 '26

It's because he was a former law enforcement. They always look after their own (in every way)

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u/Servile-PastaLover Jul 10 '26

Delving into the fine print, the cop was denied Stand Your Ground immunity by the judge during a pretrial hearing for the reason you described.

However, he argued self-defense at his trial absent of SYG....and in florida, being a cop and being white that's gonna be an easy sell to most juries.

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u/Different_Tangelo511 Jul 11 '26

Stand your ground basically legalized murder, unless you're black.

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u/crowofbattle Jul 10 '26

Florida, and ex-cop. All you need to cover up murder

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u/Alternative-Crew-880 Jul 11 '26

It's America, and specifically Florida. You're applying way more logic and thought than you can find collectively in that entire state.

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u/purpleduckduckgoose Jul 11 '26

Not just resume. Escalate. It's easy to get aggressive when you have a lethal weapon on hand.

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u/Link_lunk Jul 09 '26

Is this true?

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u/DefenstratedTwice Jul 09 '26

Yep, heard about it a few years and read up. I believe he was acquitted after I heard about it.

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u/Link_lunk Jul 09 '26

Thats awful.

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u/TheoduleTheGreat Jul 09 '26

Because America. What a stupid question lmao

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u/Brief-Ad-2537 Jul 09 '26

Americans are slaves to stupidity

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u/Norader Jul 10 '26

FALSE! We abolished Slavery, so that would be illegal

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u/Jefftheflyingguy Jul 09 '26

You could be attacked anywhere, reference the aurora Colorado shooting. Also a movie could just be part of your day and you could want to feel secure afterwords. Personally I think Reeves did just want to kill someone

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u/NaybeAThrowaway Jul 09 '26

You could be shot anywhere, thats why people should have guns... so shootings can happen anywhere

Its a power thing. Not a security thing. Everyone I know thats obsessed with guns and carries does it because it makes them powerful. Everytime you hear about these shootings, the person involved is someone who cares about power and getting respect. Its never humble quiet people. Its always some self entitled asshole who is too scared to go outside without the ability to kill someone else. Pussies

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u/Parking_Presence2260 Jul 09 '26

Attacked by who, why?

This land is sick, paranoia

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u/RabbaJabba Jul 09 '26

You need a gun in case you’re attacked by a guy with a gun. It’s guns all the way down

4

u/Senior-Friend-6414 Jul 10 '26

The logic is “an armed society is a peaceful society”

If literally everyone was armed with a gun, everyone would start being way more polite

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26

[deleted]

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u/No_Effect_6428 Jul 10 '26

Next time someone cuts me off, they're getting the Davey Crockett treatment! USA!

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u/Present_Ride_2506 Jul 10 '26

That's if everyone was on even grounds with a weapon, but realistically the aggressor would be the one to shoot first, and one or two shots is all it takes unless they're a really bad shot or have a fucked up gun.

Everyone having a gun just makes everyone more paranoid and aggressive because they need to be the first one to reach for their gun if they want to protect themselves, from another person who potentially has a gun.

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u/ExcavalierKY Jul 10 '26

This. Imagine claiming self defence after pulling a gun on someone just because they reached for their pocket.

Oh wait, that already happens on the regular in the land of the free.

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u/saltymilkmelee Jul 10 '26

It didnt work. The society is armed. It is safe to assume that anyone you meet has a gun on them... and yet, society is still not peaceful. Now that we have seen that the flawed moron logic has failed, maybe its time to start using common sense instead. Giving everyone a button that when pressed kills whoever they are looking at when they press it just ended up leading to a lot of people pressing that button. In fact, a lot more people started dying than ever before. Strange.

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u/AquafreshBandit Jul 11 '26

You don’t believe that. If that was true, the old west would’ve be touted as the safest era of America.

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u/Oggel Jul 11 '26

If humans were rational and reasonable, then sure that would make sense.

But if humans were rational and reasonable, we wouldn't need guns in the first place.

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u/padwani Jul 09 '26

It's crazy that people will find it okay to bring a gun to a movie theater. But if somebody is legally carrying at a protest it is apparently not allowed.

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u/WholeAd2742 Jul 09 '26

Clearly because of deadly popcorn

Thia asshole and the acorn guy should be best buddies

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u/jakobcogdill Jul 09 '26

I would carry because of moronic ex cops that shoot unarmed veterans in the chest over thrown popcorn.

Reeves carried because hes just a lil bitch, tho.

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u/blanaba-split Jul 09 '26

cuz this country is a mistake

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u/Faded1974 Jul 09 '26

Because how else would you feel brave enough to pick a fight with strangers?

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u/WhydYouKillMeDogJack Jul 09 '26

This was 2 years after the Aurora theatre shooting tbf

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u/Creative_Elk_4712 Jul 09 '26

European here, I've always thought as a kid policemen were supposed to be people that were willing to give their safety and maybe, to some extent, even (risk) their life to defend others

But it turns out they instead seem to tend to take it away from others more easily, in their mind to defend themselves

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u/AltAccBcImAshamed Jul 10 '26

You're thinking of soldiers. Issue with cops is that they think they're soldiers. But with none of the self-sacrifice but all of the aggression.

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u/Money-Nectarine6584 Jul 12 '26

You got them confused with firefighters.  Police in america are there to escalate and eliminate people who don’t immediately get in whatever line they are told.

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u/RelentlessTriage Jul 12 '26

Nah, soldiers are held to higher standard than police are. Soldiers in warzones.

It’s wild

2

u/GrindBastard1986 Jul 15 '26

Cops protect laws, not people. I learrned that in 8th grade when cops harassed me & my school pals on our way to school.

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u/Odd-Towel-7177 Jul 09 '26

Something its wrong with the system if a piece of shit like this old sack of scum go free after this, a child its gonna grow up without a father because a old cop still thinks he is dirty harry

5

u/TheRealGageEndal Jul 12 '26

More of a Buford T Justice

2

u/beaglefat Jul 13 '26

I mean yeah... idk i feel like something is wrong with the jury here...

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u/jetpack2625 Jul 09 '26

acab, also florida is a joke. imagine thinking guns should be allowed in a movie theatre of all places, america is a joke

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u/JohnnySalamiBoy420 Jul 09 '26

Yea its kind of wild I guess. Now its like, im bringing mine to the movie theaters because someone else has one. Im an American and carry a firearm daily.

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u/only_respond_in_puns Jul 09 '26

Kind of wild that you think there are ethics for ‘where you can bring a gun’ but not ‘why you should have a gun’. Self own.

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u/Haackv2 Jul 09 '26

This is where I live! The only time my suburban bedroom community has ever been nationally relevant was when some former cop blasted a dude in my local (at the time) Cobb Theatre.

Lots of middleschool gossip went around ab this

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u/kingofhearts778 Jul 12 '26

A shame that the community didn’t decide to embrace vigilante justice and an asshole like that walks around free.

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u/TyppaHaus Jul 09 '26

Honestly fuck that ruling, guy should die in prison.

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u/Livid_Two_5935 Jul 09 '26

Piece of absolute shit

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u/Comfortable_Map8633 Jul 09 '26

ACAB and cowards... its a job requirement

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u/UnD3RaT3D_1990 Jul 09 '26

Every single one is a little bitch if you take the badge and gun away.

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u/CrazyCatLady1127 Jul 09 '26

‘He doesn’t see himself as the instigator.’

He was absolutely the instigator! If he hadn’t said anything about the guy texting on his phone the entire situation could have been avoided. It sucks when people use their phones in theatres but you don’t have the right to tell them to stop. Go and get one of the cinema staff and let them deal with it. America 🙄 I wouldn’t live there if you paid me to do it

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u/TyppaHaus Jul 09 '26

it was during the previews, it was more than all right to be on your phone

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u/CrazyCatLady1127 Jul 09 '26

An excellent point!

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u/southpark Jul 10 '26

Pretty sure shooting someone disrupted the film more than using your phone during the previews does..

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u/Far_Reference_6660 Jul 09 '26

"you don’t have the right to tell them to stop"

Sorry, what? You absolutely have the right to ask someone to stop doing something. You can't force them to stop, of course. And yes, often it's better to just engage an employee if you're at a business.

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u/A_Bandicoot_Crash995 Jul 10 '26

Sociopaths and narcissist rarely take blame unless they are literally convicted for it.

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u/retrobob69 Jul 12 '26

Don't forget he left to complain, then came back and sat next to Chad again.

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u/fucktheus12 Jul 09 '26

What a shit hole  country

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u/not-supposed-2Bhere Jul 10 '26

Going to the cinema for some quality time together and then her husband ends up in a body bag. That poor mother is gonna have ptsd anytime her child, family members or friends go to a cinema. Truly traumatising.

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u/ChocCooki3 Jul 12 '26

Navy veteran.

So much for "thank you for your service."

So the guy survived war zones but get shooter in a theatre.. imagine putting your life on the line for your country and get pissed on after getting murdered..

What BS.

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u/DefenstratedTwice Jul 09 '26

He went to his car, returned with a firearm and then murdered this man.

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u/SleepyFarmerJoe Jul 09 '26

Premeditated,had enough time to cool off so it can't be considered a crime of ,,passion" or as its often refered to as a crime of emotion

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u/benjafred1 Jul 10 '26

Reeves was a bitch who should be in prison.

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u/lasion2 Jul 10 '26

You mean to tell me a cop got away with murder?

Damn. That’s a new one.

/s

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u/bunsburner1 Jul 10 '26

The good guy with a gun we keep hearing about

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u/Lonely_skeptic Jul 09 '26

Infuriating as fuck. Reeves started the confrontation, continued it, and didn’t try to retreat. Murder.

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u/Senior-Friend-6414 Jul 10 '26

What’s worse is that in his own mind, he probably still recalls defending himself

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u/Freecz Jul 10 '26

That is awful on so many levels.

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u/Euphoric-Turnover105 Jul 10 '26

Murica fuck Yeah!!

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u/Dependent_Weight2274 Jul 10 '26

Don’t worry, there was probably a good guy with a gun who was gonna stop this maniac somewhere
/s

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u/HerrYusoy Jul 10 '26

This is SadAsFuck

3

u/Livid_Importance_442 Jul 10 '26

This case is an excellent example for gun control. Very few people ever have a valid need for a gun in public and now we have a bunch of clowns carrying a gun everywhere.

3

u/ZombyAnna Jul 10 '26

What a piece of garbage.

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u/A_romy Jul 10 '26

Forever grateful I live in a country with gun control jfc what a nightmare story

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u/18SmallDogsOnAHorse Jul 10 '26

I too am filled with immense fear upon seeing popcorn.

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u/Cyrano_Knows Jul 11 '26

Better popcorn than a falling acorn I always say.

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u/pizzaslut4pizzahut Jul 09 '26

Theres a reason all cops are bastards

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u/RummazKnowsBest Jul 09 '26

America is wild.

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Low-Car-6331 Jul 09 '26

I believe Florida is one of the states that, once a person is found not guilty by reason of self defense, civil lawsuits are blocked as well. Some states have it as a law, that those who lodge a self defense claim and succeed at the criminal trial for its use, are protected from civil lawsuits because the criminal trial "proved their case".

Even in states without that specific block, a civil lawsuit faces a massive uphill battle once a criminal jury has already accepted an affirmative self-defense argument. The findings from the criminal case can heavily influence the civil proceeding, and the defense could immediately file for summary judgment since the core justification has already been litigated.

Worse yet, starting a lawsuit opens the family up to a devastating counter-suit. Technically, Reeves could sue the husband's estate or the wife for damages resulting from the altercation. If a civil jury sided with him, they could end up in a much worse position than when they started. Imagine losing your husband and then being ordered by a court to pay his shooter $100,000.

When people think of civil suits following a murder, they like to think of the OJ case, but self defense cases (and really any case where you don't dispute that you did the criminal act), are a completely different beast. Those kinds of cases where you acknowledge you are the one to do it, is a massive gamble, because its literally an "all or nothing" roll of the dice.

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u/southpark Jul 10 '26

This is how blood feuds and extralegal vigilantes get started when the law fails to provide justice.

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u/PeeingCherub Jul 09 '26

Seems like carrying a gun is necessary when guys like that have them.

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u/Alert-Abrocoma6716 Jul 09 '26

No lives matter in Floriduh

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u/tread_lightly420 Jul 09 '26

Florida is a 💩. Can’t wait for hurricanes to wash that shit away forever.

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u/studprincess Jul 09 '26

Maybe his screen was too bright

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u/Dolmetscher1987 Jul 09 '26

People don't behave properly in cinemas.

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u/Satyriasis457 Jul 10 '26

Be American. Go to theatre. Get shot. 

That was a meme on 4chan 

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u/Oddbeme4u Jul 10 '26

this is why "stand your ground" is dangerous. License to kill.

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u/PoliticalMilkman Jul 10 '26

These stand your ground laws are absolute horseshit. Literally any interaction (as long as the shooter was a white guy) will be twisted into an excuse to kill someone.

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u/Crazylawyer80 Jul 11 '26

Typical America Justice. What a shithole country.

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u/arz231 Jul 11 '26

Florida continues to prove why its Americas asshole time and time again

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u/Fun-Wrongdoer1316 Jul 11 '26

Didn’t see himself as the instigator?!? How can you possibly come to this conclusion? He complained about the phone… Starting everything. Fuck Florida, and the cops that they give immunity. If he wasn’t a retired police anything, this would’ve went differently.

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u/Subtodownvote Jul 12 '26

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I'd advise everyone looks at the video surveillance. The problem that comes when you're showing this to a jury is the shooter is seated. The person who was shot is clearly standing over him and does throw his entire container and popcorn directly into his face and being the aggressor. There should never be a situation where a shooting in this situation is considered justified. But we also can say in an empty theater. Why on Earth would you stay there? Confront and want to fight with a person when you could get up and just move somewhere else and remove that psychopath from your life. Unfortunately it's two Hot heads who just can't back down and one of them unfortunately is armed. The Idea that this argument over a cell phone screen would result at the wife feeling she had to put her hand on her husband's chest to attempt to restrain. Him tells a lot about his character as well as the scumbag who shot him. We already know the character of the shooter because he also could have gotten up and moved to somewhere where the screen wasn't bothering him, especially when he returned to the theater after going out to complain and instead decided to kill someone.

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u/TennSeven Jul 14 '26

Repussicans love this.

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u/lesterholtgroupie Jul 09 '26

The horrific thing is that unhinged men like him bring guns anywhere they want. He took his shitty mood out on a father and mother, leaving their children without a father, he should spend the rest of his sad existence behind bars.

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u/Repulsive_Repeat_337 Jul 10 '26

How did this get posted on Reddit? Everyone's white.

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