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Gunman in Theater Texting Case Also Sent Message

Newly released documents show Curtis Reeves sent his son a text minutes before his argument with Chad Oulson.
Image: Curtis Reeves, Jr.
Former Tampa Police captain Curtis Reeves, Jr., center, sits beside his defense attorneys Richard Escobar, right, and Dino Michaels as they listen to his taped interview by detectives during a bond reduction hearing last month.Brendan Fitterer / AP

The retired police captain accused of murdering a Navy veteran after complaining he was texting in a movie theater had just sent a text message from the cinema himself, new documents show.

Curtis Reeves' son — a police officer who planned to meet his parents at the Wesley Chapel, Fla., theater for a showing of "Lone Survivor" — told detectives his father texted him at 1:04 p.m. to say he was already seated, according to the Associated Press.

At some point after that, authorities allege, Reeves confronted another patron, Chad Oulson, 43, who was texting his young daughter during previews.

During the argument that ensued, Reeves, 71, fatally shot Oulson once in the chest.

He is charged with second-degree murder but has pleaded not guilty and claims that he fired in self-defense after Oulson hit him with his cellphone.

Other witnesses say Oulson tossed his popcorn but they did not see him hit Reeves.

— Tracy Connor
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