On Friday, a Florida jury acquitted a retired SWAT commander who shot and killed a man in a movie theater more than eight years ago after an argument over cell phone use.
A jury of four men and two women found Curtis J. Reeves, Jr. not guilty of second-degree murder in fatal shootingg Chad W. Oulson, January 13, 2014, at a morning screening of The Lone Survivor at a movie theater near Tampa.
Mr. Reeves’ lawyer alleged that his client acted in self-defense when he shot Mr. Oulson, who threw a bag of popcorn at Mr. Reeves, a former SWAT commander of the Tampa Police Department.
The verdict ended a case that sparked controversy over the legality of firearms in public places and dragged on in court due to multiple appeals and pandemic-related delays.
The case received even more attention due to its connection to the Florida organization Stand Your Ground. lawwhich allows a person to use lethal force without first attempting to retreat from a dangerous situation if the person “reasonably believes” that his or her life is in immediate danger.
In 2017, Florida state legislators strengthened the law and shifted the burden of proof to the prosecution. The judge ultimately denied Mr. Reeves’ self-defense claim under the law, but he could still plead self-defense at trial.
His lawyer, Richard Escobar, said in his closing remarks that Mr. Reeves, aged 71 at the time, was an elderly man fearful of attack by the stronger Mr. Oulson, who was 43 years old and 6 feet 4 inches tall. Mr. Escobar said that when Mr. Reeves fired his gun, it was purely in self-defense.
“I have never encountered someone who has shown such rage and with all the mentors imaginable, be it verbal, physical, expressions,” Mr. Reeves. testified at his trial.
He added, “I came to the cinema with my family to enjoy the movie, not to be attacked by some guy who is out of control.”
Witnesses and prosecutors described a different scene.
Mr. Oulson, Navy veteran and financial manager of a local motorcycle dealership, on a date with his wife. Their 22-month-old daughter Alexis, who was at home with a nanny, did not feel well.
Prosecutors said concern for his daughter prompted Mr. Oulson to defy film etiquette and write to the nanny to find out how his daughter was doing. According to them, the film has not yet begun, and Mr. Oulson sent a message.
Charles Cummings, aged 68 and serving in the Marines at the time, was in the line ahead of Mr. Reeves at the time of the shooting. In 2014, he told The New York Times that Mr. Reeves was “aggressive” and kicked the seat in front of him because “he was thrilled” by Mr. Oulson using his phone in the dim theater.
Mr. Reeves got up and told Mr. Oulson to stop texting. Mr Oulson ignored him and continued. Mr. Reeves then left to fetch the manager but returned alone.
Mr Oulson complained about being gossiped about, and the two men exchanged more words. Mr. Oulson then threw a bag of popcorn at Mr. Reeves, who then shot Mr. Oulson in the chest. application for initiation of criminal proceedings.
Oulson’s wife, Nicole, placed her hand on her husband’s chest and was hit on her finger.
Authorities said Mr Reeves calmly sat down, placed the gun in his lap and looked ahead. The deputy sheriff on duty from Sumter County, seeing the flash of the muzzle, snatched the weapon from him. Mr Reeves initially resisted and then relented, authorities said.
Ms. Oulson testified that Mr. Reeves was rude and never said, “Do you mind?” or “Sorry”, The Tampa Bay Times informed.
In an audio recording of the police interview, Mr Reeves said Mr Oulson “continued to scream.”
“Whatever he said was a threat, it was enough for me to look for a way out,” Mr. Reeves told detectives. “My wife said we just needed to move.”
Scott Rosenwasser, the public prosecutor in the case, said in his closing arguments that Mr. Reeves displayed an “explosive moment of anger.” He said that Mr. Reeves “had no immediate threat of death” – just popcorn in his face.
“A man was killed because popcorn was thrown at him,” Mr. Rosenwasser said.
Mr. Escobar, however, disagreed, telling jurors they needed to “judge the reasonableness of such a perception, not here in the comfort of a courtroom, but in a dark, cramped room.”
Video footage from the theater shows Mr. Reeves instantly drawing his weapon after Mr. Oulson tossed the popcorn.
T. J. Grimaldi, an attorney representing Ms. Oulson, said Saturday that he is “disgusted and embarrassed for the state of Florida and our legal system.”
He added that his client was “totally bewildered and completely shocked and just can’t understand how the jury could come to that conclusion.”
When the jury announced their verdict, Ms. Oulson was in the courtroom visibly shaking and crying as juror after juror confirmed that they agreed: Mr. Reeves was innocent.
Mr. Reeves, looking stoic during the verdict, looked down at the floor. As he left the courtroom, he grabbed his cane and hugged the family members.