Doug Stanglin

USA TODAY

A retired police captain was ordered held without bail Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder in the shooting a man during an argument over phone texting inside a Florida theater.

Curtis Reeves, 71, could face life in prison if convicted of killing of Chad Oulson, 43, following an altercation Monday at a showing of Lone Survivor at a theater in Wesley Chapel, Fla. He told police he fired because he feared an attack.

Reeves, wearing what appeared to be a flak jacket, participated in the preliminary hearing by video conference from the Pasco County jail.

Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper, presiding in Dade City, denied bail for Reeves despite the longtime ties to the community by the former homicide detective and 27-year veteran of the Tampa police department.

In her ruling, Tepper noted that "the evidence of guilt is significant" in the case and said there is sufficient cause for a second-degree murder charge.

Reeves, who was at the theater with his wife, had asked Oulson to stop texting on his cellphone during the previews before the film began, according to the complaint affidavit in the case.

Reeves told officers that Oulson struck him in the face with an "unknown object" during their argument in the theater. He said he then pulled a semiautomatic pistol from his pants pocket and shot Oulson once in the chest.

Witnesses, however, did not report seeing any punches thrown during the confrontation Monday afternoon, according to the affidavit.

At one point, Reeves left briefly to complain to a theater employee, then came back alone, but was "very irritated," according to a witness, Charles Cummings.

Oulson then got up and turned to Reeves to ask him if he had gone to tell on him. Oulson reportedly said that he had just been sending a message to his 3-year-old daughter. The Pasco County Sheriff said said Tuesday that Oulson had been texting with the babysitter.

The confrontation then escalated, with Oulson allegedly throwing popcorn at Reeves.

"The defendant advised that the victim turned and stood up striking him in the face with an unknown object," the complaint says, according to WTSP-TV. "The defendant advised that he removed the .380 semiauto handgun from his pants pocket, firing one round striking the victim and that he was in fear of being attacked."

Oulson was shot once in the chest. Witnesses said Oulson initially staggered away and collapsed, while Reeves sat down and put the gun in his lap.

Oulson died later at a hospital. His wife, who tried to protect him, was treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to her hand.

The sheriff said

In the 1980s, Reeves was known on the Tampa Police Department as the "go-to" guy who would handle some of the toughest police calls, including hostage situations, suspect standoffs and civil disorder, the Tampa Bay Timesreports.

HIs attorney told the court that Reeves had launched the department's SWAT team and was highly regarded by his police colleagues.

Tampa Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said Reeves was a captain when he retired from the department in 1993. His son also is a Tampa officer, police said.

Contributing: The Associated Press