Curtis Reeves: Accused Movie Theater Shooter Had Previous Arguments Over Texting

Curtis Reeves said he was afraid of being attacked when he drew a gun and shot the man who moments earlier had been sending a text message to his young daughter inside a darkened movie theater.

Reports from police are starting to shed light on Monday’s fatal shooting inside the Wesley Chapel, Florida, movie theater. The 71-year-old Reeves, a former police chief, has been charged with second degree murder for shooting a man during an argument.

Now a new witness has come forward to say that Reeves harassed her in the past for text messaging, following her to a bathroom after she used her cell phone in the theater.

The victim in Monday’s shooting, 43-year-old Chad Oulson, was sending a message to his daughter’s babysitter during previews before the movie Lone Survivor when he got into an argument with Reeves. A witness said that Reeves and his wife complained about the man sending a text message, and the argument between Reeves and Oulson grew heated.

After Curtis Reeves left to alert a manager and returned, the argument with Oulson grew heated.

Reevs told police he was “in fear of being attacked” by Oulson when he pulled out a.380 semi-automatic handgun from his pocket and shot the fi

Reeves said he “was in fear of being attacked” by Oulson so he pulled his.380 semi-automatic handgun from his pants pocket and shot the victim, police said.

“The defendant advised that he got into an argument with the victim over phone usage,” the police report from the Pasco County Sheriff’s office said. “The defendant advised that the victim turned and stood up striking him in the face with an unknown object.”

Witnesses said the victim’s wife, Nichole Oulson, tried to intervene during the fight and then moved to protect her husband once Reeves pulled his handgun. She was shot in the hand.

During Reeves’ first court appearance, a judge said evidence of his guilt was “significant.”

After charges were announced, another moviegoer contacted prosecutors to say that Curtis Reeves had once followed her to a bathroom in a dispute over texting in the theater.