Suspect arrested for battery at Bayview

By: Joshua Ceballos/News Director

Police arrested an individual on the Biscayne Bay Campus after he pulled a gun out on a student, but they are still unsure where the gun came from.

On Wednesday, Jan. 23, FIU Police entered Bayview apartments on BBC to deal with reports of a potentially violent altercation in one of the apartments.

“The suspect, Zachary Battistone, was allegedly visiting the victim, a student, at his apartment in Bayview when they got into an altercation for an unknown reason,” said FIUPD Chief Alexander Casas. “At a certain point, the argument got heated and the suspect pulled a gun out of a drawer.”

Suspect in the aggravated assault, Zachary Battistone. Photo retrieved from Tricountybusts.com

How the gun got into that drawer is still a mystery according to Casas, though after listening to statements from the victim and witnesses, they do not believe it belonged to the victim. Three other individuals live in the four-bedroom apartment, so police are looking into the possibility of it belonging to someone in the apartment.

The suspect allegedly physically assaulted the victim, grabbing his shirt collar and ripping it, before leaving the apartment without firing any shots. The victim called FIUPD, who then identified the victim on surveillance footage and were able to apprehend him off campus.

Battistone was found at the Exxon gas station at 15200 Biscayne Boulevard carrying two duffel bags, one containing the weapon: a .380 pistol.

Battistone has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed firearm and one count of battery, the first two being felony charges. He was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of press time.