Robert Cameron Redus, a 23-year-old University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), was shot to death by campus police officer, Friday, following a traffic stop altercation.
Lt. Cindy Pruitt, an Alamo Heights police officer, said that Cpl. Christopher J. Carter pulled Redus over outside a parking lot of the Treehouse Apartments at Broadway and Arcadia Place around 2:00 a.m. for speeding and driving in an erratic manner. Soon, an altercation erupted between the two and Redus was eventually shot several times by the officer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mohammad Haidarasl, a 22-year-old resident at the Treehouse Apartments in Alamo Heights and a neighbour of the victim, heard bits of the altercation.
"I heard (a man) say, 'Oh, you're gonna shoot me?' like sarcastic almost," said Haidarasl, My San Antanio reports. He then heard the officer say more than once, "Stop resisting, stop resisting," and heard a struggle between both of them. "Then the cop said, 'I'm going to shoot.'" Less than a minute later, Haidarasl heard four to six gunshots.
Currently, the Alamo Heights Police Department and the Texas Rangers have initiated an investigation on the possibility of Redus having a weapon or threatening the police officer's life, which might have prompted the firing. They will also be analyzing if Carter's use of force was necessary for the traffic violation.
The 35-year-old veteran officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. University officials claimed that Carter has an "extensive law enforcement background."
"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. We trust that God is faithful and will see us through this most difficult time," the victim's family said in a statement.
Redus was remembered as kind, intelligent, compassionate and well-loved person among his friends and community.
Redus, who was on the dean's list in fall 2012 and spring 2013, would have graduated from UIW in May.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident," said UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese, Chron reports.
