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Man shot at US theatre over texting

by David Braybrooke
23 replies
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Obsessive texting 'types' are annoying, yes! I hate colliding with pedestrian texters when innocently out walking, stuck in their own world, they seem to pay little attention to their surroundings!

And then there is this! Man shot at US theatre over texting | News.com.au
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    BTW the shooter was a RETIRED COP!!!!!!!!!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      BTW the shooter was a RETIRED COP!!!!!!!!!

      Steve
      Scary world huh!!
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

        Scary world huh!!
        Yes!!

        Especially since the shooter's attorney is claiming self defense. What actually was he defending himself from? Popcorn! Really? :rolleyes:


        Terra
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        • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
          Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

          Yes!!

          Especially since the shooter's attorney is claiming self defense. What actually was he defending himself from? Popcorn! Really? :rolleyes:


          Terra
          A flying choc top perhaps? But seriously, what a horribly tragic waste of life! Must be devastating for families involved.
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          • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
            Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

            A flying choc top perhaps? But seriously, what a horribly tragic waste of life! Must be devastating for families involved.
            Yeah, a three year old toddler is now fatherless.


            Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    As I recall, one man was texting his daughter about something, the retired cop started demanding that he stop texting. He refused. I thought the COP threw the popcorn. Anyway, the cop went out supposedly to get the manager, and came back alone and angry. He acted like he was going to shot the other man, the mans wife held the man as if to protect him, and the police officer shot killing the man and shooting through the wifes hand.

    For the cop to claim that this was self defense is just IDIOTIC! HE started it! HE came back after leaving! HE escalated it! And he was in a populated and public place!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      I had a few dealings with Fl. cops back in the 70's so I'm not real surprised.
      Not saying they are bad now, I've had dealings with them in this century that showed my they aren't the northerner hating Rednecks that they where back then.
      My first thought was "I wonder if that is the same cop who pulled me over my first day in Fl., held a gun to my head and asked why I didn't leave town like he had told me to do." Took a long time to convince him I wasn't who he thought I was.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Blankenship,RN
    Senseless! I am not sure how the texting was bothering him in the first place. At any rate, the manager could have helped to defuse the situation, by addressing the problem in the first place, but chose not to.

    Of course the whole blame lands squarely on the retired cop in the first place. He knows better. He has been trained to de-escalate situations like this and it is unfathomable that he engaged in behavior such as this!

    Where I live, a man and his wife were attacked by three thugs at a movie theater. They picked the wrong person. He was a former Marine with a CCL and when he had no other choice, he shot the hat off of one of the attackers and the attackers ran. The police quickly apprehended them and they were charged with multiple offenses. He was not. Why? Because he used his weapon as a last resort. And in a life-threatening situation. Certainly not over something as stupid as a texter.

    A gun should always be the last resort. This officer knows this. So dishonorable.

    If the retired officer did shoot this poor individual as is being portrayed, then he deserves to be treated just like any other person that commits a senseless act. He is no different than the rest of us.

    On a side note, this story will get far more play in the media than any other stories of responsible gun owners who acted in the defense of themselves or others. Those stories far outweigh the rest, but I venture to guess you will hear very little of those from the mainstream media.

    What a sad situation......didn't need to happen and should NOT have happened.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Blankenship,RN
    Most of the time, I have had very professional Florida officers that I have dealt with.. Now, the 70's were a bit before my time as far as Florida officers go....but I believe you.

    I think it really depends on the individual that you happen to come across. I have had several Florida officers give me big breaks on things that I certainly could have been ticketed on.

    When I am approached by an officer, I put myself in their place and behave respectively and do not react to any negative or nasty behavior that I may experience based on their behavior. Remember, many officers have been killed for simple traffic stops and are probably just as scared internally as you are of them at that particular moment.

    I have personally witnessed officers go WAY out of their way NOT to react to nasty, vile and disgusting behavior from people that they have pulled over. Kudos to them.

    Don't get me wrong, not every cop is a saint. Also, not everyone is a jerk, either.

    Unfortunately, one will find "bad apples" in every profession. Thankfully, the good ones outweigh the bad ones.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Jack Blankenship,RN View Post

      Most of the time, I have had very professional Florida officers that I have dealt with.. Now, the 70's were a bit before my time as far as Florida officers go....but I believe you.

      I think it really depends on the individual that you happen to come across. I have had several Florida officers give me big breaks on things that I certainly could have been ticketed on.

      When I am approached by an officer, I put myself in their place and behave respectively and do not react to any negative or nasty behavior that I may experience based on their behavior. Remember, many officers have been killed for simple traffic stops and are probably just as scared internally as you are of them at that particular moment.

      I have personally witnessed officers go WAY out of their way NOT to react to nasty, vile and disgusting behavior from people that they have pulled over. Kudos to them.

      Don't get me wrong, not every cop is a saint. Also, not everyone is a jerk, either.

      Unfortunately, one will find "bad apples" in every profession. Thankfully, the good ones outweigh the bad ones.
      I agree Jack. You can't look at the actions of one cop and say they are all like that. Things where a little different in the 70's especially if you had long hair and rode a motorcycle. But even then not all cops where bad.
      I always treat them with respect whenever I have dealings with them. After all they're the one with the gun, not me
      Heck I can remember many times back then (here in NY) getting pulled over when I was drunk, getting out of the car or off my bike and falling down. Evey time the cop would follow me home to be sure I made it.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        I always treat them with respect whenever I have dealings with them. After all they're the one with the gun, not me
        The man with the gun gets the respect. I guess that is one thing that irks me about American culture. Some of these police officers do not deserve respect and shouldn't be respected. I was taught that respect has to be earned, no matter what your rank or station.

        In fact, I would go so far as to say that some police officers are the bad guys! You need to trust your instincts and take each situation on its merits. The texting guy never stood a chance. That is scary!
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I remember when being disruptive in any way in a movie theater once the lights had dimmed - would bring a warning or get you ejected from the theater. I think it's negligent for the theater personnel not to respond to the initial complaint or the escalating argument.

        Some people object to cells phones used in theaters because the bright screens are distracting. I don't understand why the young father didn't go out to the lobby area or hallway to finish his text conversation when the older man complained. That small courtesy would have saved his life. It's a sad story.
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        • Profile picture of the author KimW
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I remember when being disruptive in any way in a movie theater once the lights had dimmed - would bring a warning or get you ejected from the theater. I think it's negligent for the theater personnel not to respond to the initial complaint or the escalating argument.

          Some people object to cells phones used in theaters because the bright screens are distracting. I don't understand why the young father didn't go out to the lobby area or hallway to finish his text conversation when the older man complained. That small courtesy would have saved his life. It's a sad story.

          Simple. Today everyone seems to feel their desires gives them the entitlement to do what they want when they want where they want without any common deceny of those around them.
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          • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            I remember when being disruptive in any way in a movie theater once the lights had dimmed - would bring a warning or get you ejected from the theater. I think it's negligent for the theater personnel not to respond to the initial complaint or the escalating argument.

            Some people object to cells phones used in theaters because the bright screens are distracting. I don't understand why the young father didn't go out to the lobby area or hallway to finish his text conversation when the older man complained. That small courtesy would have saved his life. It's a sad story.
            Nowadays, who can blame them. For 10 bucks an hour I would have a hard time approaching disruptive people in a theater...

            Originally Posted by KimW View Post

            Simple. Today everyone seems to feel their desires gives them the entitlement to do what they want when they want where they want without any common deceny of those around them.
            ...largely for THIS exact reason. Because if they feel you are interrupting their desires, who knows how they will react.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          Some people object to cells phones used in theaters because the bright screens are distracting. I don't understand why the young father didn't go out to the lobby area or hallway to finish his text conversation when the older man complained. That small courtesy would have saved his life. It's a sad story.
          I think if this guy was so trigger happy, he'd never had made it to retirement in the police.

          My first thought is the ex copper must be under a huge amount of stress, or something anyway. I know you get the odd nutter who has a funny turn and guns people down but this seems a bit different.

          I agree, perhaps the guy on the phone might have had a nicer evening if he'd gone and texted elsewhere, especially as the ex policeman was annoyed but I can't quite get my head around the fella shooting him, not realising that he'd be bang to rights for it. I can't imagine there not being CCTV in all cinemas after that red headed psycho recently shot people in the cinema but of it all, and I've obviously not seen the incident, I can't believe there is a claim of self defence.

          I'm with Kim though, too many disrespectful s***s walking around oddly demanding "respect", despite not having the slightest inkling what it actually is.
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I remember when being disruptive in any way in a movie theater once the lights had dimmed - would bring a warning or get you ejected from the theater. I think it's negligent for the theater personnel not to respond to the initial complaint or the escalating argument.

          Some people object to cells phones used in theaters because the bright screens are distracting. I don't understand why the young father didn't go out to the lobby area or hallway to finish his text conversation when the older man complained. That small courtesy would have saved his life. It's a sad story.
          It's a tragic story indeed.

          And correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the theaters ask that movie goers turn off their cell phones, beepers, etc. before the movie starts as a courtesy to others watching they movie and do so by running that across the screen along with the previews?

          I believe that is how it was done the last time I went to a movie theater. Maybe now, they'll ask that it be done before the previews start. IDK...


          Terra
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          • Profile picture of the author The 13th Warrior
            I don't feel sorry for the dead a-hole.

            No, I would not have killed him, he just deserved a sock in the face with two mean fists.

            A retired SWAT commander, so much for his oath.

            Should've just a been an old fashioned, wild west, cowboy ass whopping.

            No tears for a jerk though, those are the guys that get OTHER people killed with their selfish , my world , myopic B.S. and pass on by an asked, "what happened "?

            Maybe the ex-cop can call in some favors, ha, maybe an outgoing Governor can "pardon" him on his way out..., did he suck up to the right people before retiring?

            What a system....,


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            • Profile picture of the author Ronak Shah
              Originally Posted by The 13th Warrior View Post

              I don't feel sorry for the dead a-hole.

              No, I would not have killed him, he just deserved a sock in the face with two mean fists.

              A retired SWAT commander, so much for his oath.

              Should've just a been an old fashioned, wild west, cowboy ass whopping.

              No tears for a jerk though, those are the guys that get OTHER people killed with their selfish , my world , myopic B.S. and pass on by an asked, "what happened "?

              Maybe the ex-cop can call in some favors, ha, maybe an outgoing Governor can "pardon" him on his way out..., did he suck up to the right people before retiring?

              What a system....,


              The 13th Warrior
              Pardoning him would set a bad precedent for such crimes. If you really don't control your desires, you would just be trigger happy all the time & that's obnoxious to say the least.

              I don't agree to this kind of proposal to pardon such a person who's been an ex-cop. All those people who have guns need to know how to deal with such incidents respectfully. This person should be made an example out of this incident.

              Ronak.
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  • Profile picture of the author henrycalvin
    It seriously always feels like it. As in you always feel like you want to kill them, but obviously you need to act like a human and you don't kill them. But this guy just went literal.
    No one is allowed to fire a person for that reason, and he of all people should have known that because he was an ex-police officer.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    It sounds like both of them were power tripping a$$holes - Bond denied for ex-cop Curtis Reeves who allegedly shot texting dad - CNN.com

    But being an a$$hole is not a reason to be killed.

    It just goes to show you that you had better be careful when disputing someone in public. I'll bet the man throwing his bag of popcorn had no idea that his life was about to end. How much more subdued would he have been if he had known that it might be possible? It's not smart to ever escalate an argument in public with someone you do not know.
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  • Profile picture of the author kevin timothy
    Us Floridians can be VERY infamous and
    breaking news-friendly. Everytime you
    turn around it seems like we're the media's
    punchline.

    This incident could've all been avoided but
    someone didn't know how to swallow their
    pride. Now, look...a family is torn apart, and
    someone will catch hell in prison.

    Great end result, right? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Both guys were evidently very unbalanced to start with. With cops beating, tasing, killing people and family pets for no valid reason, then being acquitted of wrongdoing, the guy probably just figured his badge still was covering his ass.
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  • Profile picture of the author jsla
    People are losing it all over the place, another sad story...
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