A man who was reportedly texting during a matinee screening of Lone Survivor is dead today after being shot by another man who was sitting behind him. Yes, this happened in Florida.
Sheriff Chris Nocco says the male victim was on his phone and texting before the movie began, which allegedly aggravated the couple behind him. An argument between the couples broke out, and the male suspect took out a gun and shot the couple sitting in front of him.
Both victims were transported to a Tampa Bay area hospital, where the man was pronounced dead. The woman reportedly has non-life threatening injuries.
The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. at the Cobb CineBistro at Grove 16 complex on Wesley Grove Blvd.
It’s interesting to note that even at a theater where you can order wagyu beef sliders and chili glazed shrimp with your movie you can still get murdered for pissing someone off.
A good Samaritan inside the theater was able to detain the suspect until deputies arrived. The theater was evacuated without incident. [WTSP/FoxTampaBay]
That’s a really good Samaritan. I know this is a total hypothetical, but if have a choice between trying to reason with a pissed off Floridian holding a gun and running for my life, I’m probably going for option B.
UPDATE: Some additional details, via FoxTampaBay:
A witness recalled seeing the agitated man — later identified by deputies as Curtis Reeves — get up and leave in an apparent attempt to find a manager. When he came back alone, the argument escalated.
Charles Cummings told FOX 13 he heard the victim say he was texting his 3-year-old daughter before Reeves pulled out a pistol.
“Their voices start going up, there seems to be a confrontation, somebody throws popcorn, then bang, he was shot,” said Cummings, who was there to celebrate his birthday. “I heard the victim say, ‘I can’t believe…,’ then he fell on us.”
“I asked if the guy was OK, and he started gurgling blood and then fell,” recalled Cummings’ son, who said he ran to call 911.
Both the man, identified by deputies as Chad Olson, and his wife Nicole were struck by the single shot. Olson, 43, was hit in the chest and died, while Nicole was hit in the hand when she put her hand up in front of her husband. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
An off-duty Sumter County deputy inside the theater was able to grab the gun and detain Reeves until deputies arrived, the sheriff added.
Reeves, a 71-year-old retired Tampa police officer, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
[photo via Cinebistro on Facebook]