Florida man who shot theatergoer for texting to invoke 'stand your ground'
Source: Yahoo
The lawyer for Curtis Reeves, a retired police captain who fatally shot a fellow moviegoer in 2014, is planning to use Floridas stand your ground law to defend his client.
Mr. Reeves was arrested for the fatal shooting of Chad Oulson in January 2014. Police say Mr. Oulson threw his bag of popcorn in Reeves' face after the former captain criticized him for texting. Reeves responded by pulling out his gun and shooting Oulson in the chest, according to law enforcement. A bullet also grazed Oulson's wife, Nicole.
I think we have a pretty solid stand your ground case, Richard Escobar, Reeves attorney, told the Tampa Bay Times. Escobar plans to utilize a video taken at the scene to prove Reeves acted lawfully under Floridas self-defense law and ultimately have the criminal charges dismissed. A five-day hearing is scheduled to begin on Jan. 25.
With strong support from the National Rifle Association in 2005, the "gunshine state" became the first to pass a stand your ground law that allows citizens to use deadly force if they fear their own harm or death. Under Floridas "stand your ground" law, a defendant must be able to show that he had a reasonable belief in a threat before using deadly force, not that the threat actually existed, explains the Tampa Bay Times. If the judge determines the defendant had "reasonable belief" for using deadly force, the shooter is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/florida-man-shot-theatergoer-texting-invoke-stand-ground-124807512.html
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)KansDem
(28,498 posts)Or maybe this one?
valerief
(53,235 posts)CincyDem
(6,333 posts)...makes complete sense. The only way to ensure you're safe from flying popcorn is a gun. Especially if it's buttered (the popcorn that it, not the gun).
Sheesh
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)could clog an artery, given a few decades.
w0nderer
(1,937 posts)TeamPooka
(24,204 posts)crim son
(27,464 posts)Harsh words do more damage, yet this guy thinks he can persuade a jury that he believed he was in danger when it was thrown at him. Know what? Maybe he can. SMH.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Tick tick tick...
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)maxsolomon
(33,232 posts)could be 2 years, could be 20, could be 200.
but because today's situation is unprecedented, eventually gun rights will stop moving towards "guns everywhere" and tip towards more regulation. even if it's only back to the situation we had pre-Heller.
is it your contention that gun rights will just keep becoming more liberal unto infinity?
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)...merely that the "tipping point/The tide will turn" claims have been made here at DU for
years at while at the same time gun sales keep roaring along and several states have
liberalized their gun laws- IOW, it's an empty claim at this point in time.
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)Thank god for gun rights. Hooray for more innocent people getting killed by guns.
Big_Mike
(509 posts)Think back to Prohibition. The St. Valentine's Day massacre, running gang fights, Capone trying to take over Chicago. Almost all of that ended when Prohibition took the money out of selling bootleg booze.
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)GGJohn
(9,951 posts)But if that fantasy gets you through the night, more power to you.
Journeyman
(15,023 posts)so the Coke cup can gun me down.
Bastards with their little provocative ditty.
"Let's all go to the lobby. Let's all go to the lobby. Let's all go to the lo-o-o-by, so we can put a cap in your ass!"
rocktivity
(44,571 posts)wouldn't he have used it?
rocktivity
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)You don't bring popcorn to a gunfight.....or a movie theatre for that matter.
His fault for not packing heat, and being ready to use it. Popcorn is deadly, but so last century.
Never forget, the dead person is usually at fault.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,563 posts)They should be tarred, feathered and forced to listen to John Tesh music.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)ohnoyoudidnt
(1,858 posts)0rganism
(23,920 posts)i imagine their conversation going something like this...
Reeves: "I think this movie's gonna suck ass"
Oulson: "WTF? I'm only here watching it because you told me it was good. I even got popcorn."
Reeves: "STFU usuck"
Oulson: "FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKER EAT HOT POPCORN AND DIE"
<EOM>
rocktivity
(44,571 posts)WHILE reading what was texting over the volume of the movie, I might be able to agree with you...
rocktivity
Darb
(2,807 posts)He is going to be so easy to beat.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)guy with a gun?
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Given clear anger issues and lack of control.
SwankyXomb
(2,030 posts)as soon as they get their talking points.
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)They are really stretching it.
beevul
(12,194 posts)Other than that, someone wake me when hes found guilty and "stand your ground" fails...It probably wont take much...I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hear a pin drop when the time comes.
GGJohn
(9,951 posts)This asshat needs to do hard time for the rest of his life in a max security prison.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)yardwork
(61,533 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)But he is a former police captain, so expect the defense to have a lot of leeway in showing his client was a dedicated example of a model citizen...
Township75
(3,535 posts)So people like reeves still have them...and are the only ones.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)blackspade
(10,056 posts)A bag of popcorn was a treat? Asshole.
Was the wife a threat too? How about the other movie goers?
This guy was reckless in his use of a firearm.
blondie58
(2,570 posts)You know how much those old maids can hurt.
Especially if they're hot!
I am just kidding, of course. I have enjoyed my trips to Florida in the past, but I have no desire to go now.
Does anyone else think that the NRA is a terrorist organization?
Catherine Vincent
(34,486 posts)Geronimoe
(1,539 posts)to a gun fight.
SomeGuyInEagan
(1,515 posts)NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)you get to shoot if someone does something you don't like. Even Reeves doesn't claim that popcorn is mortally dangerous, so basically he shot because he was texting during a movie.
So if someone is wearing those awful jeans that sag down below the crack, or if someone talks on a cellphone while walking. Bang!
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)ThoughtCriminal
(14,046 posts)to shoot anyone they are afraid of. it's going to take more shootings, more death and more than few convictions to convince them otherwise. And good luck getting convictions when the victim is non-white, no matter how bogus the defense is.
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)MillennialDem
(2,367 posts)cop.
There's a war on the big, young, and physically fit. Gun kooks love trying to push us young whippersnappers around.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Person 2713
(3,263 posts)yardwork
(61,533 posts)maxsolomon
(33,232 posts)gun regulation only moves one way: towards infinite freedom and ubiquity.
Yavin4
(35,420 posts)It would take massive amount of social media pressure just to get the DA to look at the file.
Vinca
(50,236 posts)Skittles
(153,111 posts)seriously, they cannot even go to a movie unarmed? Pathetic.
Captain Stern
(2,199 posts)It would be stupid not to.
My understanding of the law is that he goes before a judge and presents his SYG defense. If it's upheld, the case is dismissed. If it isn't upheld, then he goes to trial....the same as he would have done if he didn't try using SYG.
I think his SYG defense should be laughed out of court, but I don't blame him for trying.
sinkingfeeling
(51,436 posts)MillennialDem
(2,367 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)That will teach you to throw popcorn at me.- 3 witnesses heard Reeves say that.According to the sheriffs deputy who confiscated Reeves gun, he heard his wife say: (rough quote) That was no reason to shoot someone.
Reeves then told his wife to: Shut your fu#king mouth, and dont say another word..
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)People that are afraid for their lives and killing out of necessity do not do some kind of stupid action hero quip.
Bucky
(53,936 posts)Seems legit. Y'know, Florida-wise.
roamer65
(36,744 posts)Hopefully the jury sees it that way.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Common sense would prevail, but this is FLORIDA. In many ways, this asshole has a better shot than Zimmerman to get off, because he fulfills the fantasies of both the Dixie natives and the "I paid my taxes in NOO Yawk!" retirees. A gun makes weak people feel good, and nothign would please many of the gray contingent here than the fact they could intimidate people by waving a gun. I know there are some great seniors, but Florida attracts the sort of seniors that made their retirement by screwing over people and they see no reason to stop now, especially as the Churches will encourage it.
mountain grammy
(26,598 posts)is because the victim was white. Reeves needs to be in prison. He's a dangerous man, killing at will, in a state that condones it. Everything about this case sickens me. American society, where this shit happens on a daily basis, sickens me.
Kingofalldems
(38,419 posts)Beartracks
(12,795 posts)... is a jerk with a gun?
If they find the shooter acted "within the law" then the law needs to change.
Given the absolute rash of mass shootings these days, what if someone sitting next to the shooter had suddenly feared for his own life AND SHOT THE SHOOTER...
===============
Chemisse
(30,802 posts)It's VERY high in calories.
Really, the only way to defend yourself is to shoot to kill.
Edited to add:
lark
(23,059 posts)Unfortunately, this seems to have happened in my insane state of FL, so who knows. How the F*** can someone fear for their lives when popcorn is thrown at them? That's just stupid on the face of it. God, I really hope this ass goes to jail. If not, even more people will feel justified in killing anyone who aggravates them, even when there is no threat, as in this case.
world wide wally
(21,734 posts)Gee, that is a wonderful idea.
Are you fucking serious?
IHateTheGOP
(1,059 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Yet another hero, apparently.
Turbineguy
(37,285 posts)But it's Florida and he'll probably get off the hook. No doubt popcorn will be declared a gateway weapon. First there's the popcorn, then the Raisinetes and the next thing you know, the guy whips out a fuckin' bazooka because that's what you take with you when you take your lady-wife to the movies.
I have to wonder how many people this guy shot in order to be a police captain?
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)Particularly the kind with extra butter.