A senior at the University of the Incarnate Word was shot and killed by a university police officer this past Friday, according to My San Antonio. The senior is Robert Cameron Redus and the incident took place off-campus in front of the Treehouse Apartments in Alamo Heights at 2 a.m.
Redus was preparing to graduate from the school in May and made the dean’s list in the fall of 2012 and the spring of 2013. He also was involved in the school’s television station, UIWTV.org.
Redus grew up in Baytown and was the co-valedictorian at Baytown Christian Academy.
The family released the following statement: “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 officer involved in the shooting has been identified as UIW police Cpl. Christopher J. Carter. Carter attempted to pull Redus over during a traffic stop for a violation. It is unclear if force was needed in the incident.
According to Alamo Heights Police Lt. Cindy Pruitt, Carter saw Redus speeding in his Ford Ranger and driving recklessly on Broadway. Carter was driving a marked UIW pickup truck during the incident. Police could not provide the exact location as to where Carter first noticed Redus driving erratically.
Pruitt said that the vehicles pulled over in the parking lot of the apartment complex and both men exited their vehicles. This is reportedly when a struggled ensued and Redus was shot more than once. Redus was declared dead at the scene of the incident.
As of Friday, it was announced that Carter was placed on paid administrative leave for the course of the investigation. During Carter’s eight-year law enforcement career in Texas, he has worked at nine jobs with eight agencies. He has twice worked for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, according to documents held by the state agency.
The files show that his current job at UIW is the longest he has held since working in law enforcement in Texas. His prior longest position was just one year and his shortest stint was seven months with the San Antonio Municipal Court Marshals Division.
There are 17 officers employed at the school and they are licensed and trained as state-certified peace officers, according to school spokeswoman Debra Del Toro. The Texas Education Code permits private licensed officers to enforce state and municipal laws outside of their jurisdiction.
The code states the following: “Whether the officer is on property under the control and jurisdiction of the institution, but provided these duties are consistent with the educational mission of the institution and are being performed within a county in which the institution has land.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident,” UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese said.