Ala. Campus Police Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Student

The judge disagreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that the university police officer violated the students’ rights.

A civil lawsuit filed by the parents of a former University of South Alabama student who was shot and killed by a university police officer was dismissed by a federal judge September 15.

The lawsuit was brought by the parents of Gil Collar, who was a freshman at USA when he was shot to death by officer Trevis Austin in 2012.

Collar was reportedly naked and banging on the door of the campus police station when Austin stepped outside. Collar reportedly asked Austin to shoot and kill him several times before lunging at Austin, who then fired the fatal shots.

In U.S. District Judge William Steele’s ruling he disagreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that Austin violated Collar’s rights and said Austin is immune from the lawsuit, according to wsfa.com.

Last year a grand jury found Austin was justified in the shooting. Collar was 18 at the time of his death.

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