Florida College Student Arrested After AR-15 Found in Dorm Following Large Ammo Shipment
WINTER PARK, Fla. — A 21-year-old senior at Rollins College was taken into custody after authorities uncovered a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle hidden under his dorm room bed, following a report of a large ammunition shipment to campus. Constantine Demetriades ordered approximately 1,500 rounds of ammunition delivered to his dormitory, an action that triggered concern and prompted intervention by campus safety officials.
The Winter Park Police Department arrested Demetriades on Wednesday, charging him with possession of a weapon on school property. The incident came to light when the assistant campus safety director noticed the substantial ammo order and reported it to law enforcement. Upon searching the student’s dorm room, officers found an unloaded AR-15 inside an unsecured black carrying case beneath his bed. Alongside the rifle were one loaded magazine, five empty magazines, a tactical vest, knives, a black security vest, and ear protection.
Demetriades told police that he enjoys shooting as a hobby and that he recently returned from a Thanksgiving trip to New Jersey, where he legally purchased and registered the firearms. He claimed he typically stores the weapon off campus at a friend’s residence and had only brought it to campus on one prior occasion. Despite acknowledging that Rollins College prohibits weapons on its premises and that his New Jersey concealed carry permit does not apply in Florida, Demetriades admitted to possessing the rifle on campus.
Florida law permits open carry of firearms; however, private institutions such as Rollins College enforce stricter regulations banning weapons on campus grounds. The college issued a statement confirming receipt of a report concerning a violation of its weapons policy and immediately launched an internal investigation. The student cooperated fully with both college officials and local law enforcement during the inquiry.
“The student was arrested and is not permitted to be on campus while the College proceeds with the student conduct process,” the statement read. The Winter Park Police Department and Rollins College have not provided further comment beyond confirming the arrest and ongoing investigation.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by educational institutions in balancing state firearm laws with campus safety policies. For additional information on firearm regulations in Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides comprehensive guidelines. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives oversees federal firearm laws and enforcement.
Rollins College’s swift response reflects a growing trend among colleges to enforce strict weapon bans to maintain safe learning environments. The U.S. Department of Education offers resources and best practices for campus safety, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures. Additionally, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators supports institutions in developing security protocols tailored to their unique needs.
As investigations continue, the case underscores the complexities of firearm possession on college campuses, especially when intersecting with varying state laws and institutional policies.
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