A retired Tampa police captain fatally shot a man in a Florida movie theater due to an argument over texting on Monday afternoon, the authorities said.
Curtis Reeves, former police captain, has been charged with second degree murder, the Associated Press reported.
After requesting 43-year-old Chad Oulson to stop texting several times at the theater in Wesley Chapel, the 71-year-old shot him, Pasco County Sheriff's officials said.
According to the AP, sitting behind Oulson and his wife, Reeves got angry because Oulson was using his phone during the previews, despite being asked to stop several times. Oulson explained to Reeves that he was simply texting his 3-year-old daughter, witness Charles Cummings told Tampa's FOX 13 television.
"Three seconds, four seconds later, the argument starts again," Cummings, who, as a birthday treat, was about to watch the movie "Lone Survivor" at The Grove 16 Theater. "Their voices start going up; there seems to be almost a confrontation. Somebody throws popcorn, I'm not sure who threw the popcorn, and, bang, he was shot."
"It ended almost as quickly as it started," said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.
An off-duty Sumter County deputy detained Reeves until police arrived.
Cummings told reporters that an upset Reeves stormed out after the argument to get a manager, but returned without one, the AP reported. The argument between the two resumed again minutes later as Oulson stood up and asked him whether he had reported him to the manager for using his phone, officials said.
"Authorities said Reeves took out a gun, and Oulson's wife put her hand over her husband, and that's when Reeves fired his weapon, striking Nichole Oulson in the hand and her husband in the chest," according to the AP.
"I can't believe people would bring a pistol, a gun, to a movie," Cummings said. "I can't believe they would argue and fight and shoot one another over popcorn. Over a cellphone."
After being shot, Oulson fell onto Cummings and his son.
"Blood started coming out of his mouth," Alex Cummings said. "It was just a very bad scene."
While Cummings and another patron who claimed to be a nurse began performing CPR on the victim, Charles Cummings said his son went to call 911, the AP reported. The shooter did not attempt to escape as a man sitting next to Reeves grabbed the gun out of his hand, Cummings said.
According to the AP, Oulson and his wife were taken by ambulance to a Tampa-area hospital, where Chad Oulson died, Tobin said. His wife's injuries weren't considered life-threatening.
When he retired from the department in 1993, Reeves was a captain, Tampa Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said in a news release. The agency's first tactical response team was established by him. Reeves worked security for the Busch Gardens theme park and was on the board of a neighboring county's Crime Stoppers organization after he retired. His son is also a Tampa officer, police said.
"Despite the tragic altercation in a Florida movie theater, which as reported is an isolated incident, movie theaters are a safe and enjoyable entertainment destination for millions of people," Patrick Corcoran, a spokesman for the National Association of Theater Owners told reporters. "We encourage our patrons to remember that they are sharing a common wish to be entertained and to treat their fellow moviegoers with courtesy and respect."
