Update on Movie Theater Gunman by informed reader

TODAY-Monday:

FROM ANONYMOUS

Yesterday I spoke to Jim personally.( Had his cell phone number in mine all along, but didn't realize it) He explained the actual details of the incident differed greatly to the news report.
He was released from jail 72 hours ago and is on house arrest. The attempted murder charge was dropped. He was and is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
It was not PTSD. He was not the one throwing popcorn nor was he the once confronting another patron in the theatre because of their loundness.
He was being beaten by a small mob having gotten involved when the a woman was punched in the face defending her husband who was defending their family.
It made great headline news the day after Christmas Day but his story is far from over.
Posted by Anonymous to As It Stands at January 12, 2009 4:11 PM

DECEMBER 30 POST

I want to share this rare insight on a man who has been described as a "crazed gunman." The moral of the story is don't judge someone unless you've walked in their shoes. This guy is an Iraqi veteran, and I suspect he has PTSD. I think this should be considered when authorities sentence the man. He served his country. As a combat veteran myself, I can't help feeling for this man who made a mistake. I put a post up yesterday on his story and this person submitted the following comment:

Anonymous said...

The last time I saw Jimmy (James Joseph Cialella) was at a church service where I am an associate pastor.
         I'd not seen him for quiet a while and he told me he'd recently returned from serving in Iraq, just gotten married and was looking forward toward getting his degree. I remember thinking how awesome it was that he'd pulled his life together, as I remember the struggle he had in his late teens and early twenties.
       I'd have had him home for a cup of coffee afterwards, but my wife and I had already made plans for our Sunday afternoon.
We're in Florida at the moment with family and it was a considerable shock to see Jimmy's pic on the Internet with the accompanying story regarding what he did (allegedly) at the Riverview Movie Theatre.
       I'd introduce Jim to our Sr Pastor on this particular Sunday who thanked him for serving in Iraq and warmly invited him to return again soon. I forwarded the news piece to my Pastor, and later on in a follow up phone call he said something to the effect that he was glad he preached a good message that day considering that Jim did not shoot us at church.
       So here it is, a guy who I genuinely like being commented on as a crazed gunman. I don't know how that makes me feel about the kind of people who I believe the best in until the prove themselves otherwise.
Guess I just wanted to share the human side of this guy who's life will never be the same, as he walks out the consequences of his criminal insanity in accordance with the letter of the law of the land in which we live.
       Bless you and if you do not know that Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life, I'd encourage you to consider this fact for yourself.

December 30, 2008 6:21 PM