A senior at a Florida college has been arrested after authorities say he had 1,500 rounds of ammunition shipped to his dorm room, where they later found an AR-15-style rifle that violated campus rules.
Constantine Demetriades, 21, was taken into custody on Wednesday, Dec. 3, after campus officials at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., became suspicious of a large delivery of 9mm ammunition, according to FOX 35 Orlando, CBS affiliate WKMG and ABC affiliate WFTV.
The shipment, which contained 1,500 rounds, was delivered in Demetriades’ name, prompting an investigation, WKMG reported, citing a criminal complaint. Officials searched his dorm room — which he shares with three other students but has his own separate bedroom — and found an AR-15 rifle.
According to an affidavit cited by WKMG and FOX 35 Orlando, the assistant campus safety director found the unloaded rifle under Demetriades’ bed in an “unsecured black carrying case,” along with six magazines — one loaded and five empty.
The Winter Park Police Department and representatives for Rollins College did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(665x0:667x2):format(webp)/Constantine-Demetriades-120625-6c0c99d8ba544e78b1041c1b9c2d8772.jpg)
Authorities also located a tactical vest, multiple knives, a black security vest, ear protection and a pistol storage case, according to WFTV and FOX 35 Orlando.
Rollins College policy states that “any substance or device identified as a weapon is not permitted” in campus residence halls, according to the school’s website.
Demetriades told officers he knew weapons were banned on campus, WKMG reported. However, he said he “was not under the impression that it was against the law to possess ammunition on campus,” according to a police report cited by FOX 35 Orlando.
He also told police he had taken the rifle to New Jersey over Thanksgiving break and returned to campus with it on Tuesday, Dec. 2, per WKMG and FOX 35 Orlando. Demetriades said he holds a valid concealed carry permit in New Jersey and acknowledged that it does not apply in Florida, according to the outlets.
Demetriades reportedly told authorities he had no harmful intentions and usually keeps the firearm off campus at a friend’s home, claiming he had only brought it to school one other time, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
The student further stated that he “likes to shoot as a hobby” and previously worked as an armed security guard at clubs in Orlando, according to WFTV, citing police.
Demetriades was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school property, WKMG reported. He appeared in court on Thursday, Dec. 4, where a judge ruled that he is eligible for pre-trial release, according to the outlet.
According to WFTV, Demetriades is also facing an internal student conduct process and is barred from returning to campus while that process is underway.
In a statement provided to multiple outlets, a Rollins College spokesperson said, “On Wednesday, the College received a report indicating a violation of our weapons policy. After receiving this information, we immediately initiated an investigation.”
“We quickly identified and contacted the student, who cooperated fully with College officials and local law enforcement as we investigated the matter further,” the statement continued. “The student was arrested and is not permitted to be on campus while we proceed with the student conduct process.”
