. >> curtis reeves has taken the stand insisting he was in a life or death struggle with a man inside darkened movie theater when he pulled out his gun and fired. here is abc's kenneth moten. >> truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth -- >> reporter: the retired captain who said he had the right to use law. taking the stand. >> i realized i was in a life or death struggle. that, all of a sudden. he was no longer a loudmouth. he was now a, very definite threat. curtis reeves trying to avoid a murder trial after he pulled the trying ter in 2014, killing chad olsen inside a dark movie theater. the two men can be seen arguing in the blurry surveillance video. that's him at the bottom right of the screen. reason for the confrontation, a cell phone. olsen's wife said he was texting their daughter's babysitter during the previews. >> he was steps above us, the other guy. towering over us. how is that a threat. reeves' wife claims the victim lunged forward. doctors testified the 37-year-old man with arthritis was justified in fearing a fight with a 40-year-old man who was 6'3". >> this i

own defense. >> why did you shoot him. >> at that point it was his life or mine. >> reporter: curtis reeves about the shooting for the first time is facing a second degree murder charge for his role in the 2014 death of 43-year-old husband and father chad oulson. reeves is using florida's controversial stand your ground law in a hearing hoping to avoid going to trial. >> what is the address of your emergency? >> reporter: reeves said he asked oulson to put his phone away during the movie previews and an argument ensued and oulson first threw his cell phone at him hitting him in the head and throwing his popcorn at him as well. >> he was getting ready to punch me and i perceived that at some point and that's when the pistol came out. >> reporter: reeves said he feared for his life. a sentiment his wife who was seated next to him in that theater echoed at the hearing. >> were you still scared? >> oh, i was -- yes, i was scared. >> have you ever been as scared as you were on that day? >> never. >> reporter: but the state prosecutor questioned reeves' account. >> you believe that mr. oulson was

curtis reeves is hoping to avoid being tried on a second degree murder charge and he's using florida'sontroversial stand your ground law claiming he felt threatened by chad oulson who he was arguing with in that theater. >> he was getting ready to punch me and i perceived that at some point and that's when the pistol came out. >> why did you shoot him? >> at that point it was his life >> shooting happened in 2014. the whole argument apparently all stemmed over the use of a cell phone inside the theater. >>> a man with a baseball bat is taken down with a football move that would make lawrence taylor proud. this is outside a police station in the l.a. area. about ten miles outside l.a. to be specific. investigators say the man -- the officer tackled man after he started whacking the building's glass windows threatening police and civilians and the over made that quick move. yeah. >> he's got to be pretty proud of himself this morning. >> i would say so. good move. >>> well, football season is still a long way away. >> but the nba is in full swing so let's get some highlights from our guy

former tampa p curtis reeves is facing murder charges were shooting chad olson in 2014.eeves says he asked olson to turn his phone off in the movie and a confrontation began. reeves says he feared for his life and that is why he fired. ruling expected next week. michelle: malfunctioning piece of machinery caused a fire at the trump international hotel. it started in a room under construction. winter is not is done with us yet. we just a few more weeks to go. steve: the herry blossoms will be -- cherry blossoms cumberland, light snow. 32. 39 in leesburg. reagan national at 43. a cold night ahead. the skies are clear and out of the northwest. this is not going the warm up a lot. the feels like temperatures are in the 20 to the lower 30's. by sunday morning we will do it all over again with the feels like temperatures in the teens to the lower 20's. keep warm and bundle up. moving through the future cast, a lot of sunshine to enjoy in the next couple of days or so. the sunshine with a hard time to warm us up around 44 to 45 degrees. the wind chill factors are colder than th

. >> reporter: 74-year-old curtis reeves does not dispute that he shot and killed 43-year-old chad oulson argument at this florida movie theater in 2014. in the bottom right-hand corner of this surveillance video you see the shooting. >> why did you shoot him? >> at that point it was my life or his. >> reporter: reeves' argument is that heired in self-defense, that he was standing his ground, that oulson was younger and taller. >> he was getting ready to punch me and i perceived that at some point and that's when the pistol came out. >> reporter: but the judge hearing his case didn't buy it saying in her decision that his conduct demonstrated he was not afraid of the alleged victim. the defendant, she says, initiated contact on at least three occasions and was not concerned about leaving his wife there alone when he went to talk to the manager. in video from the theater you see reeves leave his wife to go out and talk with that manager. complaining that oulson was using his cell phone. oulson's wife who was sitting next to him says he was using the phone to reach their baby-sand it was du

. >> curtis reeves insisting he was in a life or death struggle with a man inside a dark movie theaterhis gun and fired. >> reporter: the required tampa police kamnten who said he had the right to use the florida stand your ground law taking the stand. >> i realized i was in a life or death struggle. that all of a sudden he was no longer a loud mouth. he was a very definite threat. >> reporter: he's trying to avoid a murder trial, killing chad olsen inside a dark movie theater. the two can be seen arguing in this surveillance video. the reason, a cell phone. he said he was texting their daughter's babysitter. >> he was towering over us. how is that a threat? >> but reeves' wife claims the victim lunched forward. they say he was justified in a foithd with a man who was 63. his attorneys work to show tat he was a trained law enforcement officers. >> if spb does happen and when it does mps you handle it prosecution. if she disagrees, you will agree on a second degree murder charge. >>> and coming up why america's biggest jeweller is facing a large class action lawsuit. >> but former field