man shot for texting in movie theater

[The Big D]

Observations.

First, there is no reason whatsoever that is justification for texting leading to a shooting death. Zero, zip, nada! In no particular order (save the last) here are my thoughts given the reports.

The 'victim' had no respect for others...including the shooter. The shooter should have moved his seat or asked for a refund of his ticket. Heck, I would have done that as my first step...and have.

The shooter is one of those people who should not have a gun. Retired LEO, or not. Period.

Cannot wait to learn the tox screens reports of both involved.

If there is any defense offered that invokes FL 'stand your ground,' the attorney should be disbarred as it would be the greatest miscarriage of justice since the first OJ verdict.

Be safe.

 

[brucev]

Judges, retired PO's, defense Attorney's and procecuting attorney's in the state of Texas do not need a permit-----that is according to the teaching I recieved on applying for a permit and going thru the class. It was also on the test which the state made out.
I didn't see where the cell phone guy was 6'5". But I know at the age of 73 not to take a beating---you are liable to end up dead.
I do agree---from what I am reading---it was a righteous shooting------could have been avoided if the perp had just stowed it.
Blessings

Please explain specifically exactly how this is a "righteous"shooting. Demonstrate from credible sources, exactly and precisely how the man who was killed is properly to be characterized as "the perp." At least from the various news accounts available, the only person who can at this time possibly be considered the "perp" is the individual currently being held w/o bail in the local lock-up.

 

[brucev]

He is in jail without bond----but that is not the end results and carries very little weight in the court.
I have read some but I have not read where there were 25 people in the theater.
Folks---if a fight breaks out it is best if you win. I don't know where some of you are from but most of the time around here--an ambulance is the end results.
You can whine and say people should learn.
This has been going on for 3500 years according to the bible and it will never end as long as this earth whirls.
Folks---it is dangerous out there and not a place for politicing if you wish to survive.
I will not take a beating from another for fear of my life.
Blessings

So... a man takes his family to the movies. He texts. He tosses pop corn. He dies. Got it. It's dangerous for retired policemen to take guns to the theater as they might get offended at someone and shoot them. One question. Beyond mere assumptions and rabbit chasing, tossed pop corn not withstanding, where exactly in any credible source has it been reported that the man who was killed attacked the killer.

 

[prochi2k]

And you would be thinking wrong!

Lights are still on during previews, so who would he be bothering?

 

[bgrone]

Cell phone in movies

When I go to church (not often as I should BTW) I strive to be sure my cell phone is in airplane mode (no incoming calls) and remind my wife to do the same. On our first movie date she answered a call from her then 14 yo son and stated to carry on a non essential conversation. My work colleagues called her "cellphone Barbie" for awhile and I almost didn't date her again. I'm glad I didn't let that lapse of courtesy get in the way of our relationship ;we just celebrated 13 years married and 15 yrs together in November. We are closer than ever after supporting each other during her breast cancer , my near death in shop accident, death of her parents and her recent ongoing pancreatic cancer battle. My point is we can get past discourtesies and move on. On the other hand I have days where my frustration with rudeness prompts me to recite the modified serenity prayer:" Lord grant me the serenity to change the ***holes I can, whack the ones I can't and the wisdom to hide the bodies" (JK but I makes me laugh enough to get past the anger).

I agree with OPs who opined that we don't know the whole story, maybe we never will.

I feel sad for the wife and daughter, the most important man in a girls life for the first 18 or maybe more years is her father. I am sure that many people are alive today because someone gave them a pass because they didn't want to orphan some child(ren)


Jim in Iowa

 

[feralmerril]

The retired cop-shooter poked a grizzly bear with a stick and then got scared and thought he had to shoot it. It doesn't look that complicated to me. It was a needless shooting.

 

[sqhead]

from my understanding,when someone throws popcorn,sand,water,beer,etc in your face,eyes..it's usually a tactic before beginning an attack.....if the retired cop thought this he may have reacted.

 

[feralmerril]

If everyone that had something thrown at them reacted like that I doubt there would be a human left on planet earth.

 

[71velle]

Very,very sad...

 

[SgtLumpy]

Three points. Not all related...

(1)
Finally, above, a couple of people have pointed out - In cop school they teach us that someone throwing something in our face (a drink, a cat, dirt, popcorn) will be followed by a much larger force attack.

(2)
For those arguing "He just threw harmless popcorn", consider this scenario -
"You blankedy blank blank old giezer. Report ME to management! I'm gonna rip your arm off and shove it up your blankedy blank blank" [then throw popcorn, begin to move etc]

(3)
All of the defenses to "it's ok to text in a movie theatre" that I've read here always include "It's not THAT bright" or "It's not THAT loud". Apparently it is. Or others around you wouldn't feel the need to complain.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[The Big D]

I wasn't taught that in cop school but have had stuff thrown at me. Never followed by an attack but that's perhaps because I responded appropriately. Didn't shoot any of them, however.

Be safe




QUOTE=SgtLumpy;137655937]Three points. Not all related...

(1)
Finally, above, a couple of people have pointed out - In cop school they teach us that someone throwing something in our face (a drink, a cat, dirt, popcorn) will be followed by a much larger force attack.

(2)
For those arguing "He just threw harmless popcorn", consider this scenario -
"You blankedy blank blank old giezer. Report ME to management! I'm gonna rip your arm off and shove it up your blankedy blank blank" [then throw popcorn, begin to move etc]

(3)
All of the defenses to "it's ok to text in a movie theatre" that I've read here always include "It's not THAT bright" or "It's not THAT loud". Apparently it is. Or others around you wouldn't feel the need to complain.


Sgt Lumpy[/QUOTE]

 

[labworm]

I wonder what everyone would think if they received a phone call at home and were notified that their father, son, brother was killed for texting in a theater.

 

[jlrhiner]

We seem to have a bunch of folks thinking that texting was what the fellow got shot for.

If he attacked the old man, he got shot in self defense.

How would you feel if you got a phone call that said your *blank* got shot for attacking a man 25 years his senior because the old man called him out for doing something rude and stupid.

 

[Faulkner]

Regardless of the incident in question, I think smart phones have been a blight on polite society.

 

[straightshooter1]

Well, here's your latest from TampaBay.

Another couple has come forward saying they had an encounter with the shooter very much like the one in which the man and wife were shot.

This lady was texting as the movie came on and the shooter (maybe soon-to-be-shooter) got very angry and, after the movie somewhat violently shook his own wife's hand off his arm.

The funny, if funny can ever be used in this situation, thing is that, during the movie, the STB shooter's wife got a call on her cell phone.

This couple said others in the theater that day were either accosted or maybe just given the stink-eye by the STB shooter.

This happened some time in the past, but the exact date was not given.

That's all for now.

Bob

 

[feralmerril]

I was a lockheed guard. They had a strike and according to the Taft -Hartley act our department couldn't go on strike yet we got the same benefits the strikers would fight for. We were in the middle, and some didn't understand that. To appease things a little we used to kick in about $20s a week apiece for coffee and doughnuts to workers on the strike line.
There was one real mouthy belligerent guy in particular. After the incident I am about to tell, I believe this guy went to jail for torching a scabs garage.
Anyway he got to a guard friend of mine with his antics and mouth. I went over to that section and told my pal to go take a break and I would spell him. This was maybe around 3 a.m. We had a generator and spots lighting up the road the strikers were patrolling around us on the company perimeter. This XXX started calling me names. There was a elderly lady there that chided him, said you shouldn't call those guards that stuff, why they even bought you that roll your eating and coffee! I really wish she hadn't said that! That really set him off. He yelled at me and threw a jelly roll at me and at about 15 yards in the dark he threw from he got me square in the face and the jam was dripping down me. I dont think he could have hit me again in 10 more throws, but it was a lucky shot! I did not shoot him.

 

[straightshooter1]

I don't usually voice an opinion on cases, rather I enjoy watching them unfold through Discovery, Depositions, Motions and, finally, a Trial.

But I can't help but point out to those who say that the popcorn being thrown in the guys face (I don't think any witness has said it was thrown in his face, but...):

1. Yes, that might be a signal that an attack is coming.

2. A prudent person, a police officer or citizen lawfully carrying a firearm, might reach for his weapon, might place his hand on it to draw, and, perhaps, might even draw it.

3. But to simply draw and shoot without the attack starting, seems to be wrong to me. Remember, the wife, standing beside her soon-to-be-dead husband, had time to place her hand in front of his chest in an attempt to block the bullet which passed through her hand and into her STB husband.

It really doesn't sound as if there was an attack starting when the gun was fired.

But, I hasten to add, we have to wait till the facts work their way out in the coming process.

Bob

 

[Hodgin]

Definitely need to wait for facts to come out but right now I don't think things look so good for the shooter.

My daughter told me she read where the theater did have signs indicating no cell phone calls or texting as well an no guns. It looks like the shooter left the theater and came back with his gun. If true, it makes things look even worse for him.

 

[straightshooter1]

Hodgin, if that is true, then the shooter's goose may be cooked.

But, so far, there seems no evidence of that and, from the stories and LEO release, the guy just went to the lobby and told the management about the guy texting.

 

[Kensterfly]

Definitely need to wait for facts to come out but right now I don't think things look so good for the shooter.

My daughter told me she read where the theater did have signs indicating no cell phone calls or texting as well an no guns. It looks like the shooter left the theater and came back with his gun. If true, it makes things look even worse for him.

That's a BS assumption! All indications, so far, are that the shooter went out to inform the manager of the texting issue. So, heed your own words and 'wait for the facts."

A "No Guns" sign has no legal force.