Ryan Brooks (Faulkner University)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Montgomery police have charged three Faulkner University students in the Wednesday night shooting death of football player Ryan Brooks.

Police say Brooks, 19, of Chelsea was shot by a homeowner in the 5900 block of Woodmere Boulevard when he and three other students attempted to break into a residence to commit a robbery.

The homeowner shot Brooks in self-defense, according to police.

Montgomery police say those Faulkner University students involved in the home invasion robbery have been charged with murder.

They are: Marshall Wall, 19, Ronnie Williams 19, both of Loxley, and Tabias Russell, 19, of Alexander City. They are being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on $75,000 bond.

Montgomery police found Brooks dead of a gunshot wound at around 7:38 p.m.

Brooks, Williams and Russell are members Faulkner's junior varsity football team. Wall is a member of the school's soccer team.

"In its 72-year history, Faulkner University has never had a shooting involving a student," university President Billy D. Hilyer said, during an afternoon press conference. "The safety and well-being of our students is paramount at this university."

Faulkner Chief of Police Tony Dean said Brooks and the three students charged all lived on campus.

"There is no indication this (homicide) is an overflow of something that occurred on campus," he said.

University officials didn't speak about the circumstances during the shooting death at the press conference, but did confirm that three students had been charged.

Dean said he was notified by Montgomery police just moments after the shooting occurred that they believed it involved a Faulkner student.

The Faulkner campus wasn't placed on lockdown Wednesday evening, he said, but extra officers were called in in case the investigation lead back to campus.

Rumors spread on social media that Brooks' death stemmed from a fraternity hazing.

Faulkner's Vice President of Student Services Jean-Noel Thompson said there is no evidence to support those rumors.

He said he has spoken with one of Brooks' parents.

Faulkner is a christian university with 2,400 students attending its Montgomery campus. About 700 of those students live on campus.