(MOBILE, Ala.) - The University of South Alabama campus community has a lot of questions after a freshman was shot and killed by a campus police officer. That officer is now on paid administrative leave and the department is being tight lipped about the shooting.
It happened just outside the campus police headquarters around 1:30 Saturday morning.
Now the District Attorney's Office and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office is investigating.
"The South Alabama family is dealing with a campus tragedy," said USA Spokesperson Keith Ayers.
Officials say a campus police officer shot and killed 18-year-old freshman Gilbert Collar.
"He was a great guy. A genuine man," said one student.
Now the question many want answered is, was the shooting justified?
Campus police say the ordeal began around 1:30 Saturday morning when Collar began banging on the police station window.
"When an officer exited the station to investigate he was confronted by a muscular nude man acting erratically. He repeatedly rushed toward the police officer and rushed toward him in a fighting stance," said Ayers.
Officials say the officer drew his gun and ordered the young man to stop.
The man kneeled down but then rose up again rushing toward and chasing the officer as the officer continued to retreat away from the building," said Ayers.
Finally, the officer shot Gilbert Collar in the chest. He died on the scene.
USA student Tyler Kendrick believes the officer was out of line.
"What about apprehension? I mean tase him. But you should not draw your weapon first. You should not be drawing your weapon at an unarmed person. I know that man was unarmed and it was obvious he was unarmed," said Kendrick.
During a press conference police refused to release the name of the officer involved in the deadly shooting. When reporters tried asking questions, Keith Ayers had this response: "This statement is all we'll be able to say about it today."
Meanwhile students who knew Collar are saddened and confused by his death.
"That's not the kind of person he was. He was a great loving guy that always made people smile. Not the kind of guy that would do something like this
Everyone from my home town is expressing the same shock I am right now," said Colgan Meanor, a high school classmate of Collar's.
Collar graduated from Wetumpka High School this past May where he was a high school wrestling standout.
His former wrestling coach Jeff Glass spent the day with Collar's family.
"He was quite the comedian. He was a funny kid, respectful kid. I never had any issues with him doing what I asked him to do," said Glass.
Glass tells Local 15 that Collar was attending South Alabama to one day become a teacher and wrestling coach himself.
