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On Friday, a jury in Florida gave a not guilty verdict to retired SWAT commander, 79-year-old, Curtis Reeves, of murder. He was facing charges of aggravated battery and second-degree murder. Accusations stated that in 2014, the retired officer shot and killed Chad Oulson, 43, for texting the person babysitting his daughter during the movie previews, ignoring the notice to turn off devices. The defense attorneys and prosecutors came to an agreement that the defendant asked Oulson to refrain from texting on his phone during the movie previews.
Nobody argues with many of the facts. Oulson and Reeves had no connection with each other. Both couples had gone out to see the matinee show of the “Lone Survivor,” an Afghan War movie. He and his wife were seated in the back row and Oulson and his wife were one row ahead of them off to the right side.
Chad Ouslon passed away at the hospital as his wife was receiving medical treatment for a gunshot wound to her hand.
Court Proceeding and Testimonies
During the proceedings, Reeves plead not guilty and claimed it was self-defense. The defense attorney argued that due to the training the defendant received in the line of duty as a SWAT commander, he felt his life was at risk when Oulson threw his cellphone toward his face and looked like he was about to go over the seat to attack.
“Reeves had more knowledge, more experience, more study in that area than anyone in this courtroom,” defense attorney Richard Escobar said. “It’s a dangerous world.”
The defense attorney stated that there were not even three-quarters of a second from when the popcorn was thrown to when the shot was fired. He stated that it happened too quickly for that to be why the defendant shot Oulson.
The prosecutor expressed that the story Reeves gave was not true. Video evidence did not show Oulson throwing a cellphone at Reeves. Scott Rosenwasser stated that the defendant had no evidence of injury to his face where the phone allegedly hit him. However, the video evidence does show Oulson gripping the bag of popcorn and throwing it at Reeves as well as him firing his weapon. Witnesses also testified that they heard the defendant say, “throw popcorn at me.”
The prosecution’s counter-argument was that the ego of Reeves was hurt after Oulson had thrown popcorn at his face. They stated that there was no threat from Oulson. He said that it was unreal that in the entirety of the defendant’s law enforcement career that this event was the most he had ever been fearful then he asserted that he did not fear anything.
On Thursday, the defendant testified claiming that during his time in law enforcement, he had not come across anyone so out of control. He said that he was afraid he was going to be killed. With his age and physical impairments, he testified that he was unable to defend himself in any other way besides shooting.
Closing Arguments and Conclusion
Nobody is ever above the law,” state prosecutor Scott Rosenwasser said during his closing arguments. “[Reeves] killed another human being in a crowded movie theater next to his wife for no reason.
Concluding a nine-day trial, the jury deliberated for three and half hours. After a jury consisting of six people revealed the not guilty verdict, Reeves smiled and embraced his family.
Reeves said to Tampa Bay Times that it was great the case was closed after a long eight years and that he could not wait for it all to be done.
The case originally became nationwide news in 2014 when Reeves stated that he used self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law. A judge rejected the claim later in the proceeding.
The trial was originally delayed due to motions, hearings, and COVID-19 restrictions.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKRTXLOBcv0&w=640&h=360]
Written by Marrissa Kay
Edited by Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
ABC News: Retired SWAT officer acquitted in movie theater shooting; by Terry Spencer
CNN: Curtis Reeves, retired police captain who fatally shot man in movie theater, acquitted; by Maria Cartaya and Dakin Andone
New York Post: Retired Florida cop who killed man in movie theater for texting acquitted of murder; by Jesse O’Neill
Inline Image Courtesy of Philip Dygeus’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Studio Sarah Lou’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License