A 23-year-old student from San Antonio, Texas died after being shot by a university law enforcement official who pulled him over for speeding.
Campus cop Cpl. Christopher Carter stopped University of the Incarnate Word honor student Robert Cameron Redus for driving "erratically at a high rate of speed," the police officer told ABC News.
"A struggle [then] ensued between the suspect driver and the police officer," in the Tree House Apartments parking lot located near the school campus, a representative from law enforcement sated.
Carter reportedly shot Redus multiple times during the scuffle. The student was officially pronounced dead at the site of the incident, according to police.
An anonymous witness told ABC's affiliate KSAT-TV that six gunshots could be heard.
"I didn't hear him say anything like, 'Get down on your hands and knees,' you know? I didn't hear him say anything," the witness stated, in reference to the police officer. "He just started shooting. He umptied the gun on him. There was boom, boom, boom, boom, boom - six shots."
22-year-old neighbor Mohammad Haidarasl told My San Antonio that he heard most of the incident happening outside.
"I heard [a man] say, 'Oh, you're gonna shoot me?' like sarcastic almost," Haidarasl told the local news service. He was reportedly sitting on the couch in his apartment on the ground floor at the Treehouse Apartments around 2 a.m. when he heard between four and six gunshots.
"I jumped up and hid in my closet," he said.
Officials are still unsure of the details concerning the event, including why the conflict arose and the reason for the officer pulling his firearm on Redus.
Authorities from the university told ABC News that Carter has been placed on paid leave while police conduct the investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident," UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese wrote in a press release.
Members of Redus' family also released a statement, ABC reported.
"We are understandably devastated by the death of our dear son Cameron and we ask for your prayers as we deal with our tragic loss," they wrote.
Friends of Redus' organized a vigil for the deceased student on Saturday.
"Cameron was the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person," friend Annie Jones said. "So compassionate."
Fellow student Sarah Davis described Redus as well-liked and level-headed.
"He's not an aggressive person at all, so the story just doesn't really make sense to any of us," Davis told KSAT.
