-- The University of South Alabama freshman

by a campus police officer told other students there he was "on a spiritual quest" in the moments before he was shot, according to an

.

Gil Collar, 18, of Wetumpka, was seen running nearly naked through the streets on campus and screaming obscenities before he knocked on the window of the campus police station around 1:30 in the morning.

When an officer came out, Collar assumed what was described as a "fighting stance" then advanced on the officer. In a statement from the school, university officials said the officer tried to retreat several times as Collar continued to challenge him. The officer then shot Collar.

The freshman got up, officials said, and tried to advance on the officer once again before falling back to the ground where he died.

On Monday, Collar's mother, Bonnie Smith Collar, told the AP that her son did not touch the officer before he was shot and that she was told surveillance video showed that.

According to the story, two students who knew him say Collar appeared drunk Saturday night. One said Collar was the loudest among a group of young men walking around on campus.

Sarah Hay was quoted in the story as saying that Collar was talking about being on a "spiritual quest" prior to removing his pants and heading down the street.

A Montgomery law firm said Collar's family has brought in a team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

For the full story, see The Associated Press.