A football player at the University of South Florida was arrested for shooting a gun on campus early Sunday morning, according to USF Police.
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According to the Tampa Bay Times, offensive lineman Benjamin Knox was charged with “possessing or discharging a firearm” and “shooting into an occupied dwelling” after USF police said he shot at the outside of the student dormitory where he lives on Sunday morning.
They say they found an open gun case and ammunition in his auto, shell casings surrounding the vehicle, and the suspected gun in his possession.
Knox was suspended from all team activities, USF said. A witness also reported hearing shots fired and screeching tires from the garage afterward.
According to USF campus police, on October 11 at approximately 4 a.m., officers responded to the area of the Crescent Hill parking garage to the sounds of gunshots. No one was injured in the incident.
“Any time you hear of a person with a gun on campus or a few type of discharge of a weapon, you automatically go to the worst and hope for the best”, said USF police Assistant Chief Chris Daniel, per McNeill.
“We are in the process of gathering more information on the matter and are working with the proper authorities”, the statement continued. After contacting Knox in his room, officers said they found a handgun believed to be used in the shooting.
He is being held on a $15,000 bail at the Hillsborough County jail.
“We’re still looking into a few things”, Daniel said. “No motive provided, no injuries – it looks to us like the shots were just random”.
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Knox, who played in USF’s 45-24 victory over Syracuse in Saturday’s homecoming game, was suspended from the football team.
