On 13 January 2014, retired American

SWAT In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

commander Curtis J. Reeves Jr. shot and killed retired American

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

veteran Chad Oulson in a

Cobb Theatres Cobb Theatres was an American cinema chain based in Birmingham, Alabama. The company was established in 1921, in Fayette, Alabama, expanding through the South starting in the late 1940s, and buying out General Cinema's West Central Florida thea ...

movie theater in

Wesley Chapel, Florida Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is a suburb in the Tampa Bay Area. Wesley Chapel originated in the mid-1800s as a cohesive community of settlers who demonstrated a uniquely rural ...

, United States. The shooting occurred during the movie previews following a brief altercation between the two men. Reeves asked Oulson to turn off his cell phone and Oulson threw popcorn at Reeves. In 2017, Reeves' legal team attempted to use Florida's

stand-your-ground A stand-your-ground law (sometimes called "line in the sand" or "no duty to retreat" law) provides that people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against certain violent crimes (right of self-defense) ...

law as the basis of his defense, which was initially rejected by the court. In 2022, Reeves was acquitted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.

Death

On 13 January 2014, Oulson and his wife Nicole were preparing to watch the movie ''

Lone Survivor ''Lone Survivor'' is a 2013 American biographical war film based on the 2007 nonfiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. Set during the war in Afghanistan, it dramatizes the unsuccessful United States Navy SEAL ...

''; retired law enforcement officer Curtis Reeves and his wife were watching from the row behind the Oulsons. Chad Oulson texted his daughter's babysitter; Reeves told Oulson to turn off his cellphone and to not use it in the theater. Reeves then exited the theater to complain to theater personnel, then returned to his seat. Chad Oulson threw popcorn at Reeves, who drew a

.380 caliber The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pistol ...

handgun and fired, shooting Nicole Oulson in the finger and fatally wounding Chad Oulson. Chad Oulson died later the same day.

Reactions

According to witness Alan Hamilton, an off-duty police officer, Reeves' wife said "that was no cause to shoot anyone", to which Reeves scolded her with his finger and said "you shut your xpletivemouth and don't say another word". Reeves insisted that he killed Chad Oulson because he felt threatened by the younger, more physically fit individual. According to several sources, Reeves was also texting during the previews, responding to a text from his son.

Trial

In 2017, a judge ruled that Reeves could not take shelter under the Florida's Stand Your Ground law, a decision that would later be overturned on appeal, leaving the determination of self-defense to the jury. Tampa defense attorney Richard Escobar referred to the case as "the largest self-defense case ever in Florida". Eight years after the event, in February 2022, Reeves was acquitted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery. During the trial, Reeves stated that the confrontation made him more afraid than anything else in his life, including his

experience and entire law enforcement career, but prosecutors disputed that statement. Officers on the scene described Reeves' demeanor as extremely calm.

Post trial

In 2022, the Oulson Family Foundation was established to provide funds for children who have been affected by gun violence, including counseling, medical attention, and college tuition.

References

External links

Oulson Family Foundation official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oulson, Chad 2014 in Florida 2014 deaths Deaths by firearm in Florida Deaths by person in Florida Stand-your-ground law