South Alabama students hold protest

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - University of South Alabama students are planning a demonstration to protest a deadly police shooting on campus that killed 18-year-old Gil Collar.

Protest organizers believe campus police officer Trevis Austin who shot and killed Collar shouldn't have used deadly force. The shooting happened early Saturday morning.

Student protestors holding signs that read "Please don't shoot us!!" and "Tasers for our cops!" said they believe the police officers on campus should be equipped with tasers and they would like more stringent training and better equipment for officers.

At the same time, a group turned out in support of the police department.

Photos: University community protests shooting

In a statement, University officials said : “When an officer exited the station to investigate, he was confronted by a muscular, nude man who was acting erratically. The man repeatedly rushed and verbally challenged the officer in a fighting stance. The officer with weapon drawn ordered the individual to halt.”

The release went on to say that Officer Austin made attempts to retreat several times, but Collar kept coming in a threatening manner. Collar was shot once in the chest.

The release stated:  “The individual fell to the ground, but he got up once more and continued to challenge the officer further before collapsing and expiring.”

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran said Tuesday during a news conference that Collar had taken LSD and was threatening the officer. Sheriff Cochran said the Officer Austin was armed only with a gun and not a stun gun, pepper spray or baton.

Authorities said most of the encounter was captured on tape by security cameras at the police station on USA's campus.

Sheriff Cochran said Collar's family is expected to view the footage Wednesday, and the media will be allowed to view the footage on Thursday. It will not be released to the public, Cochran said.