Florida's Rollins College student arrested after security finds AR-15 rifle in dorm

Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel on Dec 5, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — A Rollins College student was arrested this week after an online ammunition purchase led campus security to discover an AR-15 rifle in his dorm room, according to the Winter Park Police Department.

On Wednesday, Constantine Demetriades, 21, was arrested for possessing the weapon on school property, a third-degree felony, after a search of his room yielded the unloaded rifle and six magazines, one of which was loaded, an arrest affidavit said.

Demetriades, a senior and a member of the college’s rowing team, told police he usually does not bring the weapon to campus, preferring to leave it with a friend who lives close by. But he had it with him after returning to campus early Tuesday morning from Thanksgiving break, which he spent in his home state of New Jersey.

Demetriades also said the weapons he owns were purchased and registered legally and that he had a concealed carry permit from New Jersey. He told police he “does not have any bad intentions and used to work as a[n] armed security [guard in] downtown Orlando in clubs,” the affidavit added.

The search of Demetriades’ room was prompted after a delivery of 9 mm bullets addressed to his dorm was flagged by campus safety officials. In addition to the rifle, they found a “black security vest, ear protection, [a] pistol storing case,” and a box of 50 9 mm rounds.

Demetriades was released from the Orange County Jail a day after he was booked, with a judge letting him go on pre-trial release without issuing a bond. His next court date has not been set.

In response to his arrest, Rollins said in a statement that it began investigating as soon as it received a report of a violation of its policies, which prohibit weapons in dorms.

“We quickly identified and contacted the student, who cooperated fully with College officials and local law enforcement as we investigated the matter further,” the statement said. “The student was arrested and is not permitted to be on campus while we proceed with the student conduct process.”

In addition to being a student, Demetriades has been a member of Rollins’ rowing team since the 2022-23 school year, when he was a freshman. In 2023, he was part of the team that won the Men’s Novice 4 race at the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association competition.

The college did not answer a question about Demetriades’ standing with the team but according to its student-athlete handbook, felony charges against athletes results in “suspension from athletics practice and playing privilege until the issue is resolved.”

Campus policy further states being caught on campus with a firearm “will be grounds for immediate dismissal,” as those weapons are banned from campus “at any time” regardless of licensure.

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