JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A University of North Florida student and a second man are facing charges after school officials say they broke into an apartment and punched a member of the university's men's basketball team.
Darius VanBlount, a UNF sophomore and member of the Ospreys track team, is charged with armed burglary, battery and resisting a police officer without violence. The second man, identified as Terrance Bermudez, 19 who is not a UNF student is charged with armed burglary and resisting a police officer without violence.
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The basketball player is recovering from minor injuries to the face and did not require hospitalization.
Sharon Ashton, UNF's vice president for public relations, released the following statement:
"Preliminary information indicates that at least one player from the men's basketball team was on a balcony of an apartment when a verbal dispute began with those below. A non-student and a UNF track athlete forcefully entered the apartment. Witnesses say that at some point, the non-student had a gun. The track athlete punched a basketball player in the face. Both the non-student and the track athlete then ran from the apartment. Witnesses tell the UPD that after the non-student left the apartment, he shot a gun into the air.
"A number of students were initially detained at The Flats so police could sort out the stories of the witnesses. UPD and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office caught the non-student and the track athlete and arrested both at the scene after witnesses identified them. The track athlete is charged with armed burglary to a structure, battery, and resisting a police officer without violence. The non-student is charged with armed burglary to a structure and resisting a police officer without violence. The basketball player is recovering from minor injuries to the face and did not require hospitalization.
"Police are doing all they can to get to the bottom of this," said UNF President John Delaney, who was briefed shortly after the incident by police. Other university officials, including men's basketball coach Matthew Driscoll, did go to the scene while police were there. "I am saddened that such an incident took place. At this point, police are treating the party attendees as victims. We have no information at this time of the need for any disciplinary action toward any other UNF student."