A former Florida police captain charged in a fatal movie theater shooting has been released from jail.



The decision came after an appeals court ruled Friday that the circuit court made a mistake in denying a pretrial release for Curtis Reeves Jr. The 71-year-old retired police officer has been in jail since the Jan. 13 shooting. He is facing a second-degree murder charge.



Pasco County Judge Pat Siracusa set Reeves' bail at $150,000 on Friday. Reeves was released from the jail around 8:15 p.m.

"What a wonderful day it is for the Reeves family," Reeves' attorney Richard Escobar said. "A very emotional day for the Reeves family but one of the greatest days they will ever have is to have him back at home.

"He's looking forward to spending a great deal of time with his family. He's looking forward to assisting us in preparing his defense."

Other conditions of Reeves' release include house arrest, GPS monitoring and no contact with the wife of Chad Oulson, who Reeves is accused of shooting and killing. In addition, Reeves will be required to surrender his firearms.



"There are going to be some conditions and controls as his liberties are concerned, but I know the family and I know Mr. Reeves is eager to get back home and to work with us, most importantly on his defense so that we can prove his innocence that day," Escobar said.

Escobar addressed the media on Friday after the judge's decision and asked them, as well as the public, to examine the facts.

"You gotta understand that Curtis Reeves for 27 years was a decorated law enforcement officer here in this community, protecting each and every one of you," Escobar said. "I want people to have faith and confidence in the 71 years that my client lived as an upstanding individual in this community."



Reeves will be allowed to go to church, the grocery store or a doctor's appointment but will have to wear an ankle monitor. Reeves attorney said the family is set to post bond this evening.



A portion of the motion filed earlier in the day read:

"Curtis J. Reeves petitions this court for a writ of habeas corpus contending that the circuit court erred in denying him pretrial release while he is awaiting trial for second-degree murder and aggravated battery.

"We conclude that he is entitled to some relief."

"That first hearing that we had, he should've been released," said Escobar. "In the second hearing that we had, he should've been released. Fortunately, he's released today and we're very appreciative to Judge Siracusa for doing so quickly after having second district court opinion."

Meanwhile, the attorney for Nicole Oulson, the widow of the victim, said the developments are quite a blow.

Her attorney, TJ Grimaldi, said his client does not think Reeves should be able to spend time with his family since her husband doesn't get the same chance.



When asked if he thinks Reeves is a danger to the community, he quickly answered: "He basically shot someone to death over popcorn. Do I think he's a danger? Hell yes. Can I say hell yes? I just did.



"Who's to say he doesn't lose it again? Who's to say someone doesn't walk by and heckle him on his street, that he doesn't shoot them?"

During a press release Grimaldi told the media Oulson was not in an emotional state to appear on camera.

"The gravity of the information that she (Nicole) has just learned about, she is not in an emotional state to be in front of the camera," Grimaldi said. "She's expressed her concerns to me, her thoughts and what she is feeling right now and she explained to me is if this would have happened from the get-go, when she was in the stream of consciousness of all this happening, then she would have been better suited to be in front of the camera.

"But as of right now today, she just cannot speak ... she wanted to this guy to be behind bars for the rest of his life, rightfully so. And now this man who ripped a family apart and tore them to pieces, is now able to be home, in his own bed, see his family, see his daughter, his son, and his grandkids, and it's just unbelievably unfair."

Grimaldi also discussed during the press conference that he is confident Reeves will be convicted because the evidence is "in our opinion extremely overwhelming."