A movie theater shooting that took place in Florida may have been due to a heated argument that surfaced because a moviegoer was texting during the previews, officials said Monday.
According to CS Monitor, the movie theater shooting on Monday was likely caused by an altercation between a retired Tampa police captain and another moviegoer. Authorities said the captain may have fatally shot the man, who was sitting in front of him, because the man was texting during the previews.
One of the 25 moviegoers and witnesses to the shooting, Charles Cummings said that he heard a bang while he and his friends were waiting for the movie "Lone Survivor" to start rolling at The Grove 16 Theater.
CBS News reports that the 71-year-old former police captain Curtis Reeves was charged with second-degree murder out of the incident. It was not made clear whether the ex-cop has enlisted an attorney for his case.
Meanwhile, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office revealed to CBS affiliate WTSP that Reeves and his wife were sitting behind another couple, Chad and Nicole Olsen. The movie theater shooting was only ignited when 43-year-old Chad decided to use his mobile phone to text.
Authorities said Reeves shot Chad Oulson after he tried to warn and prompt the other to stop texting at the movie theater.
"It ended almost as quickly as it started," Sheriff Spokesman Doug Tobin said. The Sumter County deputy reportedly detained the shooter until police arrived.
"I can't believe people would bring a pistol, a gun, to a movie," Cummings said. "I can't believe they would argue and fight and shoot one another over popcorn. Over a cellphone."
Further info on the incident was not yet released.
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