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Stadium Centre, the apartment complex he refused to let the four students into because they \"don't belong\", said Crandall, who appeared in the video to be considerably older than the young students, was not a resident and that it had no affiliation or association with the hotel he worked at.

Butterfield told ABC News on Tuesday he felt the man's decision to hold the gun was strategic.

\"Once we found out he had the gun, it turned into a whole different situation,\" he said. \"We really think he was trying to provoke us to the point where it got violent so he could retaliate with the gun. I knew that if this dude even feels threatened, he's going to find any excuse to pull the trigger.\"

\"PHOTO:
WTXL
PHOTO: A still image from video shared on Twitter shows a man identified as Don Crandall holding what appears to be a firearm while he speaks with a group of students who say they entered the building to attend a party.
>

Butterfield said the encounter with Crandall started when the four students were waiting outside the apartment complex for their friend to let them in to join a party. He came out, again, to reiterate the point and that's when Butterfield started recording the events on his phone. That was also when another white student, a resident of the building, tried to intervene on their behalf and let them in.

Inside, Crandall refused to let them enter the elevator with him.

\"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 took out a key to show them, which was when the students noticed he had a gun in his hand.

\"PHOTO:
IsaiahNoThomas/Twitter
PHOTO: A still image from video shared on Twitter shows a man identified as Don Crandall holding what appears to be a firearm while he speaks with a group of students who say they entered the building to attend a party.
>

\"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.

Florida A&M University said in a statement it was cooperating with police.

\"Florida A&M University (FAMU) learned that on Saturday, Sept. 8, at least one FAMU student was the alleged victim of an off-campus incident, which was captured on camera,\" the school told ABC News. \"Our students' safety is our first priority. The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) is investigating the matter; therefore, FAMU cannot disclose additional details. The University will provide assistance as it is requested by TPD. For more information, please contact TPD's Public Information Office at (850) 891-4255.\"

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