PACO COUNTY, Fla. — After about three hours of deliberations, a Pasco County jury found Curtis Reeves — the 79-year-old former Tampa police officer who shot a man inside a Wesley Chapel movie theater — not guilty on all charges.

What You Need To Know

Reeves shot and killed Chad Oulson, 43, in January 2014, after they argued about Oulson’s use of a cell phone during previews. Reeves' attorneys argue that the shooting was in self defense.

Closings arguments were delivered Friday by both state prosecutors and Reeves’ defense team.

For the jury to have found Reeves guilty of second-degree murder, they would have had to find he acted with hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent when he shot Oulson.

The state pointed to something three witnesses told the court they heard Reeves say after the shooting that they say shows he did just that.

"All across the theater, they heard the defendant say, 'Throw popcorn in my face,’" said assistant state attorney Scott Rosenwasser. “That's why we know this case truly is about, a man killing another man over a popcorn toss."

Reeves said on the stand Thursday he didn't know Oulson threw popcorn at him until after the shooting. His attorney told jurors that evidence presented during the trial backs that up. Reeves testified for more than five hours.

"A nationally recognized expert in the field of use of force told you under oath that Mr. Reeves did not fire his weapon in response to the popcorn,” said defense attorney Richard Escobar.

Reeves' attorney said two tragedies happened on Jan. 13, 2014: Oulson's death and law enforcement's investigation into it.

He said lead detectives were inexperienced and failed to properly collect evidence. One of those he specifically called out was Detective Aaron Smith.

“Right from under his nose, video evidence in this case was seized by a private entity,” Escobar said, referencing the movie theater staff.

Reeves’ lawyer told the jury he has decades of experience in law enforcement and was trained in use of force and threat assessment.

A prosecutor noted Reeves was also trained in de-escalation.

"Instead of de-escalating the situation, the defendant instigated the situation,” Rosenwasser said. “The defendant started it and he stopped it."

In addition to the murder charge, Reeves had been charged with aggravated battery for the injury suffered by Oulson’s wife, Nicole.