A white man surrendered to authorities after withdrawing a gun on a group of Black Florida A&M University students.
49-year-old Don Crandall Jr. turned himself over to police at Leon County Detention facility on September 21 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Tallahassee police charged him with improper exhibition of a firearm according to NBC News.
On Sept 8, a confrontation between Crandall and four young men occurred after Crandall tried to deny the boys entry into Stadium Centre apartment complex and elevator. He kept telling the students they “didn’t belong” there and eventually pulled out his gun.
(photo credit: Twitter Screenshot)
Florida A&M University student Isaiah Butterfield recorded the entire incident and shared it on Twitter. He told NBC that he and his friends were waiting to be let into the building by another friend who resides at the complex when Crandall approached them.
“He walked past us and opened the door and he told us we weren’t getting into the building unless we had a key,” Butterfield stated. “We were thinking, ‘Why would he even say anything to us?’ We were confused.”
The student added that Crandall told them to find another elevator to ride on and that “this is my elevator.” He also said that the 49-year-old “made sure” that the young men saw his gun.
“He was holding his arm in a way to emphasize,” said Butterfield.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office said Crandall could face one year or less in jail if he’s found guilty.
The catch 22 is that Crandall wasn’t even a resident of the apartment complex and was an employee at nearby hotel Baymont by Wyndham, Tallahassee Central. Pax Hotel Group who owns the hotel confirmed that Crandall has been terminated from the company.
The video of the incident has since received over 500,000 views.
