Flag walker arrested in Tampa

Published 12:25 am Friday, May 29, 2015

Eric Sheppard

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State University student protester wanted for bringing a gun to the campus six weeks ago was arrested Thursday in Tampa, Fla., without incident.

 Eric Sheppard, 21, whose protest against racial inequality included walking on an American flag, was apprehended by Tampa police at 11:15 a.m. and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.

 Authorities said he will be returned to Valdosta to face the felony gun charge after an extradition hearing. The U.S. Marshal Service’s fugitive task force assisted in locating Sheppard.

 He had been on the run since April 21 when the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest after discovering a handgun in a backpack he left unattended on the campus.

 Sheriff Chris Pine said the gun had been purchased by Sheppard at a local pawn shop earlier that week. Georgia law prohibits students from carrying guns onto public school property.

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Sheppard has described himself as a black activist against white authority. His campus protest drew little attention until a former woman Air Force veteran and Playboy model showed up and grabbed the flag that he was walking on to show his disdain.

A struggle ensued over the flag. A video of the incident went viral on the Internet, causing widespread outrage over Sheppard’s conduct.