A Twitter video of a white man stopping four Black students from entering their apartment building with a gun has triggered a police investigation.
On Saturday (Sept. 8), a video that has since gone viral on Twitter shows a white man holding up a gun and using his body to block four Florida A&M University student from getting into their student housing complex. One of the students Isiah Butterfield recorded the man, and tweeted “…We are sick of the discrimination,” said Butterfield in the tweet. “Never thought I’d have a personal experience with racism like this…”
The incident began when the four students were waiting outside the apartment complex for one of their friends to let them in to join a party. That’s when the man, #DonCrandall, told them they weren’t getting in the building and went inside and locked the door. Crandall then comes back outside and tells the students again they cannot come in. A white student who was entering the complex intervened and let the Black students in, telling Crandall to “keep walking” and “just go about your day.” Crandall, who isn’t a resident of the building, begins insulting the white student at the Black students watch. Ultimately they all enter the building, but once they get to the elevator, the white man again blocks them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“Find another elevator, you can’t get in this one,” he said, blocking their way as the four students tried to enter it. “Why not? Do you own the building?” the students asked. “Because you don’t belong in this building,” he replied, before adding, “You ain’t got a key for the building, you don’t belong in the elevator.” The man then took out a key to show them and a student noticed he also had a gun in his hand. “Sir, you bring out your gun. What’s your purpose for that?” one of the students asked. “Oh, I’m sorry. Excuse me. Forgive me,” he said, trying to hide it behind him.
The apartment complex has since addressed the incident, confirming they are working with the police in a full investigation. The complex also said in a statement firearms are prohibited on their property, and that Crandall has no authority whatsoever over the building. Twitter users identified Crandall, who is the former general manager of Baymont by Wyndham. ABC reports the incident is under investigation under Florida’s statute of aggravated assault with deadly weapon without intent to kill, the Tallahassee Police Department said.
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