Popcorn and Pistols, a Cinema Tragedy: Chad Oulson's Last Day

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[00:01:48] Hey everyone, my name is Nikki Young, and this is Serial Napper, the true crime podcast for naps. I'm back with another true crime story to lull you to sleep, or perhaps to give you nightmares. Picture this. It's January 13, 2014, just before 1.30pm. The lights are dimming, trailers are rolling, and moviegoers are settling in for an afternoon escape.

[00:02:33] But for Chad Olsen, a veteran, and Curtis J. Reeves, a retired police captain and SWAT commander, this matinee would become their final, fatal encounter. What started as a trivial dispute over cell phone use during previews quickly escalated into a verbal altercation. Chad, trying to text his babysitter about his 22-month-old daughter, found himself at odds with Curtis, who took offense to the glowing screen.

[00:03:03] The tension mounted as Curtis left to complain to management, only to return to his seat and reignite the argument. In a moment of frustration, Chad turned and threw his popcorn at Curtis. It was then that the unthinkable happened. Curtis drew his handgun and fired a single fatal shot.

[00:03:26] What would happen next is almost too crazy to be true, sounding as fictional as the movie that they were set to watch that day. So, dim the lights, put your phone down, and listen as I unravel the events of that fateful day, exploring how a simple trip to the movies turned into a tragic headline, forever changing the lives of two families and leaving a community in shock. So let's jump right in.

[00:03:52] In the world of true crime, there are stories that capture our attention not because of the mystery they hold, but because of the tragedy that unfolds. The story of Chad Olson is one of a man whose love for family, passion for adventure, and devotion to others left a mark on everyone who knew him. Chad was born on September 28, 1970, in Alton, Illinois.

[00:04:17] But before he could even celebrate his first birthday, his family moved to Clayton, Illinois, where he would grow up, attending local schools, and eventually graduating from Brown County High School. After high school, Chad's journey took him far from his small-town roots. He served his country in the United States Navy during Operation Desert Storm, a defining chapter in his life that shaped him in ways many would come to admire.

[00:04:44] But when Chad returned to civilian life, it wasn't just his military service that defined him. He became a husband, a father, and a beloved member of the Port Ritchie, Florida community. Chad's passion for life was infectious. His job as a finance manager at Sky Power Sports in Port Ritchie was more than just a career. It was a place where he thrived, building relationships with co-workers and customers alike.

[00:05:13] But it was his personal life that would truly show the world who Chad Olson really was. A man of many talents, Chad wasn't just about work. He had a love for dirt bike racing, boating, and playing the guitar. But above all else, his greatest joy came from the time that he spent with his wife and his daughter. His love for them radiated from every moment they shared.

[00:05:39] The one thing that Chad held closest to his heart was the joy of being a father. He adored his young daughter, Alexis. In fact, it didn't matter what the conversation was about. Chad would always find a way to bring it back to something that his daughter had recently done, or the latest adorable picture that he'd posted on Facebook. His feed was a gallery of family moments.

[00:06:04] Pictures of him with Alexis at the beach, at Halloween, her riding a pony, simple, beautiful memories that spoke volumes about the love that he had for his family. It was clear to anyone who knew him, Chad was the type of man that you wanted in your corner. The kind of person who made you laugh, made you feel seen, and made you want to be a better version of yourself. But as with all true crime stories,

[00:06:31] the peace that Chad had built was about to be shattered. January 13, 2014 was just another day at the movies for most people. But for Chad Olson, it would mark the beginning of a deadly encounter, one that would end in tragedy. Curtis J. Reeves Jr., a 71-year-old retired police captain, walked into the theater that afternoon carrying a .38 caliber handgun in his pocket.

[00:07:01] He and his wife were there to watch a matinee showing of Lone Survivor. Perhaps, like most moviegoers, they didn't give much thought to the previews flashing across the screen. But there was one message that seemed to capture Curtis' attention, one urging viewers not to talk or text during the movie. We've all seen those screens come up that say, turn off your cell phone, please. Little did he know,

[00:07:28] that very warning would set the stage for what was about to unfold. Sitting in front of Curtis were Chad Olson and his wife, Nicole. As the movie began, Chad, ever the devoted father, pulled out his phone to text the babysitter about their young daughter, Alexis. The glow of his phone lit up the darkness of the theater, a small light visible to those who were seated around him. One of those people was Charles Cummings,

[00:07:54] a 68-year-old former Marine who was seated just a few rows ahead. Charles would later describe Curtis Reeves as aggressive, a man who at one point had kicked the seat in front of him, visibly agitated by something. So what was troubling Curtis? Well, the answer was simple. Chad Olson's phone. Curtis asked him to stop texting. But Chad, ever the doting father, explained that he was just checking in with the babysitter

[00:08:24] to make sure that his two-year-old daughter was okay. Charles, who could hear the exchange from a few seats away, recalled Chad Olson saying something like, I'm just texting my two-year-old daughter. But despite the reasonable explanation, Curtis wasn't satisfied. He stormed off to find a theater manager, but when he returned, he was alone. However, the tension, it was mounting. The disagreement between these two men escalated.

[00:08:53] Another moviegoer, Mark Douglas Turner, who had spent 27 years in the Air Force, he recalled a calm and composed Chad Olson say, Do you mind? I've got a voicemail from my daughter's babysitter. Do you mind if I check to see if my daughter's all right? It was an innocent request, a father simply wanting to make sure that his child was safe. But that's when the atmosphere shifted. The words got louder as the two men began to argue back and forth.

[00:09:23] The tension grew, and what had been a simple disagreement over phone etiquette now felt like something far darker. And then Chad Olson made a fatal move. He stood up, and he faced Curtis Reeves. Then he threw his bag of popcorn at him, with some of the colonels apparently hitting Curtis in the face. The movie theater was still dark. The movie hadn't even started yet. And Curtis would later say that

[00:09:51] he wasn't exactly sure what was thrown at him. He only saw it as a dark object. That's when he reached for his .38 caliber pistol and fired a shot directly at Chad. Chad's wife, who had placed her hand on her husband's chest when he stood up, in an effort to get him to sit back down, would be struck in the finger by the bullet as it entered her husband's body. According to other moviegoers, Chad yelled out, I can't believe he shot me

[00:10:20] as he stumbled back and fell on the person next to him. A nurse who happened to be in attendance rushed to Chad's side and attempted life-saving measures, while another moviegoer, a sheriff's deputy, rushed to grab the weapon from Curtis. Curtis apparently sat there calmly, seemingly in shock over what he had just done. At approximately 1.30 p.m., one of the moviegoers called 911 to report that someone had been shot at the movie theater.

[00:10:50] At first, police believed that this might be another mass shooter incident, like what had happened in 2012 at the Joker movie in Aurora, Colorado. While they waited for officers to arrive on scene, one witness reported hearing Curtis' wife say, that was no cause to shoot anyone, with Curtis responding to her, you shut your fucking mouth and don't say another word. When emergency services arrived at the cinema, Chad was taken to the hospital.

[00:11:19] However, sadly, he died from that bullet to the chest later that day. A life was taken in an instant, before the movie that was scheduled to play that afternoon had even begun. Investigators immediately wanted to speak to the shooter, Curtis Reeves, in order to get his version of events. Now, I have a transcript of his first interview with an officer, so I'll read to you a little bit about what he says happened that afternoon.

[00:11:48] This is his story from the point of view when he came back to the theater after leaving to go talk to the manager. So, here's a little bit of it. It goes, he said something about, he was, I don't remember, if it was any of your fucking business. I was texting my daughter or something like that, and you stay the hell out of my face. I think that's when he said that. See, and his wife is holding him back, so I had sat down, and I think I got the bag of popcorn from my wife. And so, he jumps up, and he turns around,

[00:12:18] and he stands in his seat, which was, well, you saw the crime scene, he was off to the right of me. So, as he's pushing on the back, there's a crack between us. So, I'm leaning back in my chair. I got nowhere to go. And, uh, I'm leaning back in my chair. So, he kept on hollering, and I'm not sure what he said, to be honest with ya. He said something, and, uh, that led me to believe he was gonna kick my ass. And, I don't know if that's exactly how he phrased it or not. So,

[00:12:48] I'm looking briefly. I know I can't go anywhere. Uh, so, I, I'm leaning all the way back in my chair, as far as I can get away from him. And suddenly, he's virtually on top of me. So, because I'm stretched out, if you look at these pants, the pistol was in the right front pocket. And, you're sitting down, ain't no way you can get it out. So, I'm stretched out, so, I'm stretched out, trying to get away from him. My left arm is in front of me, and,

[00:13:17] I think I'm saying either, no, no, no, or, whoa, whoa, whoa, one or the other. And, uh, then, uh, suddenly, my head was to the right. So, he hit me with something. And I assume it was his fist, but I didn't know. Something was wrong with my left eye. Uh, anyway, I had him wash it out for me. So, he hit me with his fist, so, he hit me with something. I think he had his cell phone in his hand, um, because I saw the, I saw the blur of the screen.

[00:13:47] For a while there, I was kinda dazed. It had to be from the strike, even if it was a glazing blow or whatever, but I felt like I had something in my eye. Anyway, I'm leaning back, and he's virtually in my lap. I got contact with something with my left hand. It's dark in there, I mean, this happened so damn fast. And, uh, the trajectory of the bullet should be upward, because I came out of my pocket with it, and, I guess you could say,

[00:14:16] I was scared shitless. Police ask him again, what did he hit you with? And again, Curtis says that he doesn't know, because it was dark. They ask him, what made you shoot him? And he responds, well, I guess, uh, it scared the hell out of me. I thought the guy was fixing to beat the shit out of me. The aftermath of Chad Olson's death stunned those who knew the man responsible for his killing, Curtis Reeves. A retired police captain,

[00:14:46] respected and admired for his long service in law enforcement, Curtis Reeves was a man that many had trusted and looked up to. In fact, his neighbors described him as kind, friendly, and devoted to his family. He'd been married to his wife since 1967, and he was known for attending Bible study, always with a smile on his face. But on that day in the theater, something shifted. Curtis,

[00:15:14] who had served as a commander in the police department for almost 17 years, shot and killed Chad Olson. The shock was palpable. Many people couldn't reconcile the man that they knew with the events that transpired. It's time for a quick break and a word from tonight's sponsors. Hang on, I'll be back before you know it. Are you feeling off balance thanks to hormonal changes? You are not alone. You are not alone.

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[00:17:08] Just use the code SERIALNAPPER at checkout. That's happymammoth.com and use the code SERIALNAPPER for 15% off today. Now back to our story. Curtis Reeves was charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Chad Olson and aggravated battery for injuring Nicole Olson. His lawyer, Richard Escobar, argued that Curtis had acted in self-defense,

[00:17:39] claiming that he had been hit in the face with something other than popcorn and he feared for his life. His defense hinged on Florida's Stand Your Ground law, which states that a person under threat has no duty to retreat before using lethal force. Because of Curtis's age, 71 years old, and some of his health issues, he suffered from bursitis and respiratory ailments, his defense team contended that he was justified in his actions

[00:18:07] given the physical disparity between him and the younger Chad Olson. However, the legal battle was far from over. A judge initially ruled that Curtis Reeves couldn't claim Stand Your Ground as his defense. But this was a decision that was later overturned on appeal. The case would ultimately be left in the hands of a jury to determine whether Curtis Reeves acted in self-defense or if this was cold-blooded murder.

[00:18:36] If convicted, Curtis could have faced life in prison. The question remained, was this a tragic case of a man defending himself or was this the act of a man angered over thrown popcorn? This case, which began in the dark of a movie theater, would captivate the nation as it raised difficult questions about self-defense, age, and the consequences of a fleeting moment of tension.

[00:19:05] Eight years after the incident, in February of 2022, Curtis Reeves went on trial. As the proceedings unfolded, new details began to surface. A woman came forward telling prosecutors that, just two weeks before the fatal shooting, Curtis Reeves had threatened her over texting at the movies. So, was this a pattern? Charles Cummings, the former Marine who had witnessed the altercation in the theater that day,

[00:19:35] added his voice to the conversation too, asking, what's he bringing a gun to the movies for? That's a happy place. No one is going to kill you there, except that he did go there and kill someone. And remember, it should be noted that there were literal signs at the movie theater saying that you're not allowed to bring a gun in there. The defense would argue that Chad Olson wasn't texting at all, but instead, he was looking at Facebook before the shooting, a point that sparked its own debate.

[00:20:04] Would it really matter if Chad was checking Facebook instead of texting the babysitter? Did that change the nature of what happened? Or did it somehow justify the deadly force that was used against him? Testimony from paramedics, a medical examiner, and a forensic investigator focused on whether Curtis Reeves had actually sustained injuries during the confrontation. They found varying degrees of redness on his face from the popcorn,

[00:20:32] but no clear injuries from being hit with that popcorn bag. I believe there may have been a kernel that flew in his eye, and that's what he was talking about when he was speaking to the officer, at the scene. The defense made an argument that Chad Olson's phone could be considered a deadly weapon, asserting that Curtis had the right to defend himself if he perceived the phone as a threat. According to Florida law, the perception of harm doesn't have to be based on reality.

[00:21:00] It's enough for a person to just feel threatened. I have my own opinions on that one, but I'll leave it alone for now. In a motion for a judgment of acquittal, the defense argued that Curtis had every right to use deadly force because he claimed that Chad had either thrown the phone at him or was about to throw the phone at him. But the judge denied this motion, siding with the prosecution's argument that

[00:21:26] no evidence suggested that Chad Olson had actually thrown his phone at Curtis Reeves. There was a video that was shown in court, and it showed this entire interaction but without sound, and at no point does Chad throw his phone. As the trial continued, new details emerged that painted a more personal picture of the defendant, Curtis Reeves. The defense team made a deliberate attempt to portray him as a frail,

[00:21:54] aging man who, in their view, was physically unable to defend himself in this confrontation, the confrontation that he started. The strategy seemed clear. To show that the man who pulled the trigger that day wasn't the strong, confident police commander he was when he was younger, but a weakened figure, fearful for his safety in an unsettling situation. Again, in my opinion, an unsettling situation that he caused.

[00:22:22] Curtis's adult children were asked to take the stand, and they were visibly emotional as they described their father's declining health. His son and daughter described a man who had once been physically active and strong, someone who could lift heavy weights, paddle a kayak, and chase after his children and grandchildren. But in the year leading up to the shooting, they explained that that man was slipping away. Jennifer Shaw, his daughter, tearfully recounted on the stand

[00:22:52] the moment when she saw her father struggling to pick up his granddaughter. She described a man who had once been the picture of strength, now asking for help to dismantle a kayak paddle. She said, It was hard to watch. My dad, a man who had always been so active, now struggling with simple tasks. Curtis's defense attorney suggested that, due to these health issues, Curtis felt deeply threatened when Chad Olson stood up

[00:23:20] and turned around to face him in that dark theater. According to the defense, the simple act of turning towards Curtis Reeves, a gesture that could have been interpreted as aggression, prompted the retired officer to pull out his gun. But it wasn't just Curtis Reeves' children who spoke. His wife, Vivian Reeves, took the stand and she shared her own harrowing version of the events of that day. Remember, she had actually been sitting beside him

[00:23:49] while this whole ordeal unfolded. Vivian Reeves recalled how she had actually suggested changing seats when Chad Olson cursed at her husband for confronting him about texting in the theater. But Curtis Reeves either didn't hear her or perhaps he ignored her and he walked away to speak to a theater manager. Which begs the question, like, why didn't he just change seats if this texting was bothering him that much?

[00:24:18] When Curtis had returned from speaking to the manager, the exchange between the two men reignited. Vivian described how Chad Olson, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up, turned towards her husband, and leaned in as if preparing for a physical confrontation. At that moment, Curtis Reeves, allegedly feeling cornered and afraid, pulled out his firearm and he fired it. Vivian's voice wavered as she told the jury, quote,

[00:24:47] I'd never been that scared like that in my whole life. And then, in a striking moment of testimony, she clarified something important. She did not witness Chad Olson throw anything at her husband before the gun was fired. Vivian added quietly, quote, I wish I had. In this moment, the central question became clear. Was Curtis Reeves truly acting on self-defense? Or was this an escalation driven by something darker,

[00:25:17] something more rooted in pride and fear than in actual physical danger? The defense's claim that Curtis Reeves was in imminent danger and that his actions were justified under Florida's Stand Your Ground law was being tested in real time by the very people who knew him best. But the question remained, was this a tragedy of a man in his elderly years trying to protect himself from a younger, stronger individual? Or was it something else entirely?

[00:25:46] As the trial entered its final stages, Curtis Reeves took the stand to defend his actions that fateful day in the theater. For the first time, the jury would hear directly from the man accused of killing Chad Olson. His testimony was both compelling and chilling as he recalled his version of events leading up to the fatal confrontation. Curtis explained that he initially did not perceive

[00:26:15] Chad Olson as a physical threat. Instead, he described him as a mouthy and profane moviegoer who simply refused to follow the theater's rules. The light from Chad's phone in the darkened theater had irritated him, but Curtis said that at that point, he never thought the situation would escalate into violence. But things took a turn when he returned to his seat after speaking with the theater manager. According to Curtis, Chad's behavior

[00:26:44] had suddenly shifted. What had started as a simple argument turned into what he described as explosive behavior and uncontrolled rage. Curtis said that in an instant, he felt something strike him above his left eye. He wasn't sure if it was a phone or a fist, but it left him disoriented and his glasses were knocked off his face and his vision was blurred. It was in that moment, as he struggled to regain his bearings, that he noticed Chad

[00:27:14] was standing up, turning around, and allegedly coming toward him. He said, quote, I'm sitting in a completely defensive position and he's standing up. He looked like a monster in front of me. I had nowhere to go and no way to get there. Curtis insisted that he didn't shoot Chad Olsen because of the popcorn. He had no recollection of Olsen throwing anything at him. Instead, he said, he shot him because he believed that Chad Olsen

[00:27:43] was about to seriously injure or even kill him. He said, quote, I shot Mr. Olsen because I thought he was going to seriously injure me or potentially kill me. I didn't want to shoot anybody. I came to the theater with my family to enjoy a movie, not to be attacked by a man who was out of control. But in the aftermath, as the trial unfolded, Curtis Reeves expressed deep remorse for the consequences of that day. He spoke about

[00:28:12] his regret and the toll that it had taken on everyone involved. Curtis Reeves, a man with a long history of service and law enforcement, acknowledged the loss of life and the devastating impact on Chad's family, saying, I wish I could go back and do it differently, but you don't get do-overs. After several days of deliberation, the jury returned with their verdicts. As for the charge of second-degree murder,

[00:28:42] not guilty. The charge for aggravated battery against Nicole Olson, who was shot in the hand that was on her husband's chest, not guilty. Curtis Reeves, a retired police captain once respected by his community, was acquitted of all charges. The decision was met with mixed reactions from those present in the courtroom and from the public, as you can imagine. For Curtis Reeves, the verdict brought a sense of relief, but it could never

[00:29:11] undo the events of January 13, 2014. He walked out of that courtroom a free man, but the weight of what had happened, it still hung over him and over those who had lost so much. As for the Olson family, the pain of losing Chad would never go away. They were left to grapple with the knowledge that, in the eyes of the law, Curtis Reeves had not been held responsible for their loss. The trial,

[00:29:41] the verdict, the legal arguments, none of them could bring Chad back or erase the scars left on those who loved him. As we look back on the events that unfolded that day in the theater, one thing is clear. This story is as much about the complexities of human nature as it is about the law. It's a tragic tale where a small, seemingly insignificant disagreement over a cell phone led to a loss of life and where a community that once admired

[00:30:11] Curtis Reeves now wrestles with the consequences of that fateful decision. Chad Olson's death was senseless, the result of a momentary spark of anger that just burned too hot too fast and left no room for de-escalation. And yet, the question of self-defense, what's truly justified and when, is one that will continue to haunt those involved long after the trial is over. That's it for me tonight.

[00:30:40] If you want to reach out, you can find me on Facebook at Serial Napper. You can find my audio on Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. I post all of my episodes in video format over on YouTube, so go check it out. And if you're watching on YouTube, I'd love if you can give me a thumbs up and subscribe. I'm also on Patreon. If you'd like to get your Serial Napper episodes early and ad-free, hop on over and check out all the details at patreon.com slash

[00:31:10] Serial Napper. Until next time, sweet dreams, stay kind, especially in the comments and at the movie theater. Bye.