Suspected gunman seen on campus
A man who aimed a supposed firearm at two students around 2 a.m. Monday on Holly Drive has yet to be found, said Lt. Chris Daniel, University Police (UP) spokesman.
The two USF students, whose identities will not be released until detectives complete investigation interviews, were walking along Holly Drive near Maple Drive when a light-colored vehicle drove slowly past them, Daniel said. The driver, a white male, allegedly produced a sliver, metallic-looking handgun and pointed it at the students. An exchange between the driver and the students took place before the vehicle fled campus.
Daniel said UP determined the vehicle was most likely a 1998 to 2000 silver Ford Focus. Before the exchange, the driver backed his vehicle into a roadway sign, according to one of the student witnesses, and the vehicle may have minor damage to its rear bumper as a result.
Neither student was injured and there was no indication that the incident seemed to be an attempt to take any property, Daniel said.
“The behavior of the vehicle made them feel uncomfortable and they commented on that, which I guess engaged the whole conversation,” he said.
He said he didn’t know what the conversation was about, just that there was “bantering back and forth.”
Daniel said there is some other information known about the suspect, but UP would not be releasing to the public.
“There are certain things we want to retain back so, in case we make contact with a potential suspect, we’ll know things the public doesn’t know,” he said.
Other law enforcement agencies, including Florida Highway Patrol, Temple Terrace Police Department, the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office, were alerted with a description of the vehicle, but neither UP nor patrol units from other agencies were able to locate the driver or additional evidence.
In an email advisory, Daniel said anyone with information related to the incident should contact UP with tips at 813-974-2628.
More Stories
McKinley Drive closed down for death investigation, Tampa police say
The intersection between Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive was closed due to a death investigation late Tuesday afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department (TPD). A man shot himself after making a bomb threat in the parking lot of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), located at 11201 McKinley Drive, according to TPD. Police said […]
USF 2024-25 A&S budget to increase student organization funding in Tampa and St. Pete
The Student Government (SG) Senate approved the 2024-25 Student Activities & Services (A&S) budget for all three campuses this Tuesday, seeing an overall increase in allocated money to student organizations. The vote was 26-0, approving the budget. Related: 2023-24 A&S budget down $5 million from last fiscal year Students pay fees in their tuition – […]
USF education majors concerned about teacher shortage in Florida
The restrictions on how educators can teach and the lack of pay has deterred education majors, like sophomore Aidan Wright, from wanting to teach in Florida. Wright’s hesitation represents a larger issue facing Florida teachers. This year, the Florida Education Association reported a teacher shortage of over 4,000 educators. This has left “potentially…hundreds of thousands […]
Taylor Swift USF course to be taught this fall
Are you “…Ready for it?” An English course offered on the Tampa campus will concentrate on Taylor Swift for the first time in the fall. The course, LIT3301: Cultural Studies and Popular Art, has been offered before as an English elective, but can be taken by students of any major. The class concentrates on a […]
Marshall Student Center to replace elevators by December 2025
While students made their way into the Marshall Student Center (MSC) over the past year, they might have noticed signs in front of elevators reading they were under repair. One of the most commonly used elevators, behind the information desk at the MSC, was recently completely shut off. The motor on elevator one, on the […]
Abortion and marijuana amendments are pressing concerns for USF students
Florida voters will have the opportunity to decide the future of abortion and marijuana use in the state this November. Six amendments were approved at the beginning of April. These include amendment three, which addresses marijuana use, and amendment four, which addresses abortion. The abortion and marijuana amendments are especially important to college students according […]