PALM BAY, Fla. – Eastern Florida State College Palm Bay campus was closed Friday after a fight between two men and a student escalated into a shooting Thursday afternoon, but still no one has been charged because all 3 men involved are claiming they were defending themselves.
Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, police say two men, Amado Contreras, 24, and his brother Landyer were seen beating Landrick Hamilton, 24, with a pool cue in the parking lot.
After going back to his car, police say Hamilton grabbed his a handgun and shot Amado Contreras in the chest.
Contreras was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but has since been released, according to the Palm Bay Police Department.
Hamilton, a full-time student at EFSC since last year studying chemical technology, has no prior disciplinary problems at the college, according to school officials.
Local 6 went by Hamilton's house Friday to try and find out how the fight started, but his father declined to comment.
According to school officials, EFSC does not allow guns anywhere on their 4 campuses, regardless of the recent Florida appeals court ruling that allows students and staff to carry firearms in their cars, as long as they're stowed away securely.
Local 6 did some digging and found that Stetson University, Seminole State College, Embry-Riddle University and Rollins College still have a policy banning any firearms on their campuses.
However, the University of Central Florida allows its students, employees and visitors to carry their legally-owned firearms in their cars.
EFSC officials say they won't know if Hamilton will receive punishment for having a gun on school grounds until the investigation is finished.
It'll be up to the state attorney's office to decide if criminal charges will be filed.
Classes will resume on Monday.