Three people involved in shooting at Palm Bay college claim self-defense

PALM BAY, Fla. — One student was shot and another was hospitalized following a fight Thursday in the parking lot of Eastern Florida State College in Palm Bay, rescue officials said. The campus is shared with the University of Central Florida.

Officials said Amado Contreras was shot in the chest. He is in fair condition and the injury is not considered to be life-threatening, according to the police report.

Police said  Thursday afternoon Contreras along with his brother Landyer Contreas, became involved   in a verbal argument with student Landrick Hamilton, which escalated into a physical fight  in the parking lot of the college’s main building.

One of the brothers got out of a car and began beating Hamilton with a pool cue police said.

Hamilton pulled a handgun from his car, shooting and wounding Amado in the chest, police said.

"We just heard a gunshot. Well, we heard a loud, 'Pow, pow!' We didn’t know. We didn’t know exactly what it was," said a witness. "No one was alarmed, [and] then we just saw people running over there."

"I thought it was one of those little firecracker things because it wasn't very loud," said another witness

Officials said Hamilton was hospitalized for head injuries he received in the fight right before the shooting.

All three are claiming self defense.

No charges have been filed and the case is being sent to the State Attorney's office.

According to a tweet from the college, the campus was deemed safe and the lockdown has been lifted.

Classes have been cancelled.

WFTV