WINTER PARK, Fla. – A Full Sail University student was stabbed in class with a screwdriver on Thursday in what deputies are calling a hate-crime.
Xavier Nunez, 29, was arrested in the stabbing, which happened around 9 a.m. at the school located at 175 University Park Dive in Winter Park.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Nunez walked to the front of the room during a statistics class and yelled racial slurs before stabbing a black student in the neck with a screwdriver he had in his pocket.
The stabbing victim, Tavoris Murray, was treated at the scene and was not seriously injured, deputies said.
Deputies said no other classes were interrupted or canceled. There were about 40 students in the class when the attack occurred, deputies said.
Nunez was arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and taken to jail. Deputies believe the stabbing was racially motivated because he told deputies and Murray that he hated black people.
Full Sail released a statement on Thursday, saying "Full Sail does not condone or tolerate violence or discrimination of any type. This isolated incident was diffused quickly and professionally by security and law enforcement."
Students said they're surprised to hear of the incident.
"I've never had a problem with anyone of different races here," said Aaron Roberts. "I get along with everyone here so its really crazy to hear."
According to the school's website, Full Sail, which has nearly 19,000 students and offers 40 degree programs, was founded in Ohio in 1979 and moved to Florida a year later. In 1989, the school moved to its current campus and expanded its curriculum to include entertainment and media-related areas of study.
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