College student trying to get into the wrong car is shot to death, Florida cops say

A university student was shot and killed when he tried to get into an unknown car after a night out with friends, according to Florida police.

The student, who attended the University of Tampa, took an Uber to his home, about a mile from campus, at around 1:20 a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a news release from the Tampa Police Department.

After exiting the Uber, the student tried to enter a vehicle that was parked nearby.

“The driver, who did not know the individual or why he was forcing his way into his vehicle, shot the man, striking him in the upper body,” the release says. “The driver said he feared for his life.”

The student died at the scene, according to police.

The accused shooter remained on scene and is cooperating with detectives.

Police did not release the identity of the student, but a school district in New York identified him as Carson Senfield, a 2021 graduate of Orchard Park High School, about 15 miles southeast of Buffalo, according to the Orchard Park Central School District.

Senfield had two siblings and a “wide circle of friends,” according to a letter sent to families by Superintendent David Lilleck.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Senfield family during this difficult time,” the letter says. “Carson was a light in this world and will forever be a Quaker.”

In a statement posted on a GoFundMe page for their son, Senfield’s parents, Daren and Bridget Senfield, wrote that donations would go to helping support college opportunities for future students in their son’s name.

“The Senfield family is truly blessed for our time on earth with our beloved son Carson,” the statement says. “He was an incredible young man with a passion for his friends and his family.”

A spokesman for the University of Tampa said in a statement that the university community sent its condolences to the student’s family members and friends.

“The University values all members of the community and mourns this tragic loss,” the statement says.

A woman who said she was one of Senfield’s former teachers wrote on Facebook that she couldn’t process his loss.

“On the first day of classes, Carson jokingly asked if I would call him ‘Hurricane,‘” wrote Maria Braun. “The name stuck for the year. He was a goofball of a guy and he will be sorely missed.”

A freshman at the university told WESH that what happened was “scary and awful.”

“I was just like, ‘That’s terrible.’ How can that just happen to somebody?’” Erika Roberti told the outlet. “This is supposed to be a safe school. It’s just scary.”

The University of Tampa enrolls around 10,500 students, about half of whom are from Florida, according to the university’s website.

This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 10:14 AM with the headline "College student trying to get into the wrong car is shot to death, Florida cops say."