A Texas college student was shot and killed early Friday morning during an altercation with a campus police officer.
Robert Cameron Redus, 23, a senior at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, was reportedly driving his Ford Ranger erratically and speeding at about 2:30 a.m. Friday morning, according to The San Antonio Express-News, citing Alamo Heights Police Lt. Cindy Pruitt.
Cpl. Christopher J. Carter, of the University of the Incarnate Word Police, reportedly ordered Redus to pull over, and both vehicles pulled into the parking lot of the off-campus apartment complex where Redus lived. Pruitt told The Express-News both men got out of their vehicles at some point, and became embroiled in a struggle that prompted Carter to radio his colleagues for help.
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Witnesses reportedly said they heard four to eight shots fired during the encounter between Carter and Redus, who was on the dean’s list at the university and a valedictorian of his high school class who was due to graduate in May.
Redus was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I heard (a man) say, 'Oh, you're gonna shoot me?' like sarcastic almost,” Mohammad Haidarasl, 22, told The Express-News of the verbal exchange he overheard from his ground-floor apartment in the moments that immediately preceded the sound of gunshots. “I jumped up and hid in my closet.”
“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,” Redus’ family said in a statement. “We trust that God is faithful and will see us through this most difficult time.”
The Express-News cites state records in reporting Carter has been a law-enforcement officer for eight years in Texas, and during that time had held nine jobs at different agencies.
He reportedly had been at UIW for about two-and-a-half years.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident,” UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese said in a news release from the Catholic college, adding Carter has been placed on administrative leave.
Police were investigating whether Redus had a weapon or was threatening the police officer's life, Pruitt said. The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.
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