The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
October 30, 2015

Retired Tampa Police Captain to Use "Stand Your Ground" as Defense After Shooting Man over Texting 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
In Florida, a retired Tampa police captain accused of fatally shooting a
man at a movie theater after a dispute about texting is reportedly
planning to use Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law in his
defense. Police say former Captain Curtis Reeves began arguing with
fellow movie-goer Chad Oulson about his texting. Reeves claims Oulson
then hit him in the face, although witnesses—including Reeves' own
wife—dispute that claim. Reeves' lawyers plan to argue that the
shooting was justified under the Stand Your Ground law because Reeves
had "reasonable belief" his life was in danger. Both Reeves and Oulson
are white.

 

.