>> went to another show. >> reporter: it's been eight years since curtis reeves had a fatal shooting r: reeves was that older man. a retired police captain and s.w.a.t. commander. he shot and killed 43-year-old chad oulson during a matinee in the cobb threeuater. >> do you wish you had left your gun at home? >> if i had, there's a good chance i wouldn't be here today. >> reporter: eight years later after multiple appeals and delays, he was tried for second egree murder and aggravated ond assault and acquitted on both counts. >> it lifted a load off of each one of our heards, and it was certain ly impactful for us. >> reporter: he was acquitted on the ground of self-defense. the controversial verdict igniting a debate over self-defense and use of deadly force in the state of florida. now, the 79-year-old is speaking out about why he pulled the trgger. there will be people watching this at home saying you shot chad oulson because he threw popcorn in your face. your response to that? >> well, i think that the experts have proved that if you look at the timing here, it was pretty much phy

>> went to another show. >> reporter: in 2014, retired police captain curtis reeves shot and killed 43to a fight during the previews of a matinee and oulson threw popcorn in his face. reeves, now 79, was acquitted of all charges late last month. >> how did the interaction begin? > it began rather mundanely, i would say, i simply asked a gentleman to turn his phone down. i didn't know him so consequently i was not rude or anything. it was simply a request and from that it just kind of escalated. >> reporter: according to authorities, oulson brought his phone to check on his then 2-year-old daughter, surveillance from inside the theater shows reeves leave to complain to the manager but when he returned to his seat, the situation turned deadly. >> i had sat back to enjoy the movie and at that point i was looking at the previews and then suddenly out of the corner of my eye he's on his feet and i got hit in the face. >> you got hit in the face? >> right, there was something that flashed in front of my face and at the same time, my vision kind of went blurry. >> and is that the point where

curtis reeves opening up about the day he killed a man. >> had i left my gun at home, that's a good chance