Friends baffled by killing of US college student

MOBILE, Alabama (AP) - Classmates and friends are questioning why a police officer fatally shot a University of South Alabama freshman who was naked and had been banging on a window at police headquarters.

Campus officials didn't give any indication that Gil Collar, 18, had a weapon when he was shot. A university spokesman said he was fatally wounded about 1.30am (2.30pm, Singapore time) on Saturday after an officer heard a bang on a window and went outside to investigate.

A statement issued by university spokesman Keith Ayers said Collar, who wrestled in high school before enrolling at South Alabama, assumed a "fighting stance" and chased an officer before being shot.

The officer tried to retreat numerous times to defuse the situation before opening fire, the school said.