Retired policeman Curtis Reeves charged with murder after fatally shooting Chad Oulson in theatre Curtis Reeves appears in court via video link facing second-degree murder charges for the death of 43-year-old Chad Oulson. Curtis Reeves appears via video conference before Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper in Florida and has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 43-year-old Chad Oulson. Chad and Nicole Oulson were shot over an argument about texting. A RETIRED policeman fatally shot a moviegoer sitting in front of him after an argument over texting turned fatal. Curtis Reeves, 71, has been charged with second-degree murder over the death of 43-year-old Chad Oulson. Somebody throws popcorn. I'm not sure who threw the popcorn," said Charles Cummings, who was about to watch the movie Lone Survivor on Monday. And then bang, he was shot. Pasco County Sheriff's officials said the shooting happened when Reeves asked Oulson to stop texting at the theatre. Oulson told Reeves he was texting with his 3-year-old daughter, Cummings said. Cummings, who had blood on his clothes, told a group of reporters the show was still in previews when the two couples started arguing. "I can't believe people would bring a pistol, a gun, to a movie," Cummings said. Over a cellphone. "Blood started coming out of his mouth," said Alex Cummings. It was just a very bad scene. A man sitting next to the shooter grabbed the gun out of his hand, and the suspect did not attempt to get away, Cummings said. His wife's injuries were not considered life-threatening. Tampa Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said in a news release that Reeves was a captain when he retired from the department in 1993. A Pasco County sheriff's deputy stands guard outside the Cobb Theater.