RETIRED cop, Curtis Reeves, was found not guilty by Florida jury on February 25, 2022.
In 2014, Reeves was charged with second-degree murder.
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Who is Curtis Reeves?
Curtis Reeves, 79, was a police SWAT commander who retired from the Tampa department in 1993.
Reeves is married to his wife, Vivian Reeves and the pair have two children – a daughter, Jennifer, and son, Matthew, who is also a Tampa officer.
Reeves’ wife, Vivian, was sitting next to him during the Florida theater incident in 2014.
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What did Curtis Reeves do in 2014?
On January 13, 2014, Curtis Reeves, 71 at the time, was charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing a man inside a Florida theater.
According to USA Today reports back in 2014, Reeves and Chad Oulson, aged 43, got into an argument after Reeves asked Oulson to stop texting during the showing of “Lone Survivor” at Cobb Theater in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
One witness, Charles Cummings, who was in the theater, said Oulson told Reeves he was texting his 3-year-old daughter.
After Oulson refused to stop texting and allegedly threw popcorn and another, unknown object at Reeves, the retired officer drew his 380 semi-automatic handgun and fired at Oulson’s chest.
Oulson and his wife, Nichole, were airlifted to a local hospital where he died shortly after. His wife did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
The trial verdict, on Friday, February 25, 2022, was made a day after Reeves testified in his own defense.
After a nearly eight-year delay, a nine day testimony, and close to nine-hours of closing arguments, Curtis Reeves was found not guilty of second-degree murder and not guilty of aggravated battery.
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What are people saying about Reeve’s verdict?
Users have stormed Twitter with comments concerning the jury’s verdict and Florida “stand your ground” law.
One user wrote: “Florida’s stand your ground laws allow any one to commit murder under the guise of ‘self defense’ as long as your white and it wasn’t a cop you shot.”
Another wrote: “As a citizen of Florida I am thoroughly embarrassed that once again we’re the laughing stock of the country and the world.”
While others commented on Reeve’s not guilty verdict:
One user tweeted that “the jury got it right! Oulsen definitely hit reeves with the cell phone.”
Another wrote: “I feel sick to my stomach. The Oulson family deserved better. #CurtisReeves.”
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