Man who flashed gun at FAMU students scheduled to go to court Friday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The man who flashed a gun at a group of FAMU students he stopped from getting on an elevator at an apartment complex is due in court Friday.
Donald Crandall is scheduled to go to Leon County Circuit Court on Friday morning to be formally advised of the charges against him and to enter a plea to the charges.
Crandall faces a charge of improperly exhibiting a firearm stemming from the incident at a student housing complex, Stadium Centre.
After the incident in September, Crandall, who was a hotel manager, was fired from his job.
Man who flashed gun at FAMU students booked into jail
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A man who flashed a gun at a group of FAMU students he stopped from getting on an elevator at an apartment complex was booked into jail early Friday and released on bond.
Donald Crandall Jr., 49, was released on a $2,500 bond at 2:31 a.m. Friday., court records indicate.
He faces a charge of improperly exhibiting a firearm.
He is to be arraigned on Oct. 18, 2018, at 8:30 a.m.
Crandall was released on several conditions, according to court documents: He must avoid contact with the victims, and he must not possess or have access to firearms, ammunition or weapons.
A video of the incident went viral on social media and resulted in Crandall's firing from his job as general manager at Tallahassee's Baymont by Wyndham hotel, owned by the Pax Hotel Group.
The video, posted by one of the Florida A&M University students, shows Crandall holding a gun and using his body to prevent students from entering an elevator at a student housing complex, Stadium Centre.
Charge filed for man seen flashing gun at FAMU students in viral video
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Charges have been filed in an incident between four FAMU students and an armed man at a Tallahassee apartment complex.
The Tallahassee Police Department says that a warrant has been obtained for Donald Crandall, Jr., the former general manager of the Baymont by Wyndham hotel in Tallahassee, for improper exhibition of a firearm.
The warrant comes after police reviewed all of the evidence and consulted with the State Attorney’s Office.
Police say they began investigating the incident for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill on Sept. 10.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department has completed their investigation into a tense confrontation between four FAMU students and an armed man at a Tallahassee apartment complex.
Officer Damon Miller says TPD completed their investigation into the incident involving Don Crandall and four FAMU students on Wednesday.
He says that they submitted their case to the State Attorney's Office who is now reviewing the case. Ultimately, they will decide whether or not to file charges.
Crandall, whose identity was confirmed to ABC News by the Baymont by Wyndham hotel in Tallahassee, was fired from his general manager position at the hotel after the video went viral.
TPD confirmed to WTXL that the incident is under investigation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
This is a developing story. Stay with us for updates.
Tallahassee hotel owner apologizes for 'former employee' who showed gun
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee hotel owner has issued a statement apologizing for the "actions of our former employee," who was videotaped with a gun in hand during a confrontation with men at an elevator.
In an Instagram statement, the hotel apologized without mentioning the name of the employee.
The employee was identified by social media users as Don Crandall, a hotel manager with the Pat Hotel Group at the Baymont Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hotels.
The statement made clear that it did "not stand behind the actions of our former General Manager," adding that "One of Pax Hotel Group's Core Values is to treat others the way you would like to be treated."
"While at work or out in our every day lives we expect our employees to have this core value in mind, we would like to apologize to those affected by the actions of our former employee," the statement said.
Records at the Florida Department of State shows Pax Properties owns the hotel. We're reaching out to them for comment.
The Tallahassee Police Department requested Tuesday morning that the public remain patient while investigators do their jobs, saying that many people are contacting them about the case.
If you are a witness or have direct knowledge, of the case, TPD asks that you contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (850) 891-4200.
FAMU students "targeted" during incident with gun at apartment complex
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - An incident at a Tallahassee apartment complex is getting a lot of attention on social media. A two-minute video shows a confrontation by an elevator, when a man reveals he has a gun.
"You ain't got a key for the building? You don't belong in the elevator."
The video has been seen about 300,000 times on Twitter. You can see a man holding a gun as he blocks a group of men from taking the elevator.
"Sir, you bring out your gun. What's your purpose for that?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me. Forgive me."
"He targeted us, and we didn't know he had a gun," said Isaiah Butterfield, a Florida A&M University student.
Isaiah Butterfield said he and his three friends from FAMU were at Stadium Centre Apartments early Saturday morning to see a friend who just moved in. The students told us a man approached them to tell them they weren't getting on the elevator he was taking.
Stephen Brooks, one of the FAMU students said, "It's student housing, so I'm like, 'Sir, do you have a key? 'Cause you're kinda older than us. We're college students. We're 20, 21. We're students, and you look like you're in your mid-forties.'"
When the man shows them what he says is his key, he has a gun in his other hand.
"You never know in today's day what could happen, you know?" said Joshua Cosby, another one of the FAMU students. "We could've ended up being the next Trayvon Martin."
One student said he's glad his mother taught him what to do when something like this happens.
"She told me not to turn around, not to run away. Don't make no sudden movements," said Fitzroy Rhoden. "Try to talk about it. Try to deescalate the situation."
So, who's the man in the video holding the gun? Several people on social media say his name is Don Crandall, and he's the manager of this hotel.
We spoke to him over the phone. He said he hasn't seen the video, and he's not saying anything else, including whether or not he was at the complex at the time of the incident.
Tallahassee police tell us they're investigating what happened.
Meanwhile, we're waiting to hear back from Stadium Centre Apartments and Wyndham Destinations for comment.
