UPDATE: Amado Contreras Wounded In Shooting At EFSC
By Space Coast Daily // January 31, 2014
ABOVE VIDEO: One person was shot in the parking lot of Eastern Florida State College in Palm Bay on Thursday afternoon during a fight, according to Palm Bay Police Chief Doug Muldoon. The incident is under investigation and authorities say that self-defense may be a possibility. (WESH 2 News)
UPDATE: January 31, 2014, 1 a.m.
By Eastern Florida State College
“We are deeply grateful for the rapid and courageous response of our Campus Security officers and the Palm Bay Police Department in the incident,” said Eastern Florida College President Dr. Jim Richey.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — One person was shot yesterday and a second injured on the Palm Bay campus of Eastern Florida State College following a fight between a student and two men.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday in the campus parking lot when a student who was in his car was approached by two men who pulled up in another vehicle.
One of the men got out of the car and began beating the student with a pool cue. The student pulled a handgun from his car, shooting and wounding the man in the chest.
Campus security officers were on the scene within seconds and Palm Bay Police arrived about one minute later, securing the area.
The shooting victim and injured student were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The student was later released and the shooting victim was listed in stable condition.
The student has been identified as Landrick Hamilton, 24, of Palm Bay. Hamilton has been a full time student at the college since 2013 studying chemical technology.
“We are deeply grateful for the rapid and courageous response of our Campus Security officers and the Palm Bay Police Department in the incident,” — Dr. Jim Richey.
He has no history of disciplinary problems at the college.
The Palm Bay campus was locked down during incident, and emergency alert messages were posted on the college’s website and sent via text message to all students, faculty and staff telling them to remain in place with doors locked.
The lockdown was lifted after police declared the area safe. Classes on the Palm Bay campus were canceled for the rest of the week, including those for the University of Central Florida which also offers courses there.
ALL CLASSES RESUME MONDAY
The Palm Bay Police Department is conducting an investigation into the shooting with the full cooperation of Eastern Florida State College officials.
Palm Bay police will be releasing more information as their investigation continues.
“We are deeply grateful for the rapid and courageous response of our Campus Security officers and the Palm Bay Police Department in the incident,” said Eastern Florida College President Dr. Jim Richey. “The safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount and we are fortunate no one else was injured.”
The incident comes following a Florida appeals court ruling last week that struck down a University of North Florida policy that banned keeping firearms in cars on campus.
“The safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount and we are fortunate no one else was injured.” — Dr. Jim Richey
Some Florida universities have since changed their policies to allow guns in cars on campus, but Eastern Florida State College has kept its ban in place pending a final court rehearing of the UNF case.
Eastern Florida State College policy prohibits weapons anywhere on its four campuses, with the following stated in the college’s governing policy manual and in the Student Code of Conduct:
“Students may not possess weapons while on college property (law enforcement officers excluded.) Weapons are defined as firearms, knives, explosives, flammable materials or any other items that may cause bodily injury or damage to property.”
The college will have counselors available for faculty, staff or students who may need them starting at 7 a.m. Monday on the Palm Bay campus.
UPDATE: January 30, 2014, 5:15 p.m.
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Detectives with the Major Case Unit are continuing to investigate a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of the Eastern Florida State College that left one man wounded and another hospitalized.
According to the Palm Bay Police Department, just after 1:30 p.m., patrol officers responded to the college after several witnesses called 9-1-1 to report a fight in the parking lot.
The callers also reported hearing a gun shot. Palm Bay Fire-Rescue paramedics responded and treated two males at the scene. One male, identified as Amado Contreras, 25, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest area.
SHOOTING VICTIM IN FAIR CONDITION
Based on witness interviews and interviews with the individuals involved, the investigation has revealed that Hamilton and the Contreras brothers were involved in a verbal argument which escalated into a physical fight in the parking lot in front of the college’s main building.
Contreras is in fair condition and the injury is not considered to be life threatening. The other male identified as Landrick Hamilton, 25, was sent to the hospital for injuries received in the fight prior to the shooting. A third male, identified as Landyer Contreras, 30, was not injured.
All three individuals are cooperating in the investigation.
Based on witness interviews and interviews with the individuals involved, the investigation has revealed that Hamilton and the Contreras brothers were involved in a verbal argument which escalated into a physical fight in the parking lot in front of the college’s main building.
During the fight, Hamilton obtained a handgun and fired one shot striking Amado Contreras. All three individuals are claiming self-defense.
All of the witness statements and evidence collected from the scene will be reviewed and sent to the State Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges will be applied as a result of this incident.
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ORIGINAL POST: January 30, 2014, 2 p.m.
One Wounded In Shooting At EFSC Palm Bay Campus
PALM BAY, FLORIDA — Police are on scene at 250 Community College Parkway at Eastern Florida State College in Palm Bay, where a shooting occurred earlier this afternoon.
According to Palm Bay public information officer Yvonne Martinez, patrol officers and detectives are currently at the scene of a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of Eastern Florida State College.
According authorities, one person suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
The shooter was also taken to the hospital for injuries that occurred during a fight prior to the shooting. A third person involved in the incident is being questioned.
The school is currently in lockdown with no access in or out until further notice. The scene is secure and the investigation is ongoing. More details will be released as they become available
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