Father of accused Paine College shooter speaks out

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The father of the man accused of shooting an Augusta college student in the head talked to Channel 2 Action News.
 
Xavier Cooper is currently in the Richmond County Jail.
 
His father, Anthony Cooper, spoke to Channel 2's Erica Byfield.

"There is no sense in breaking down right now. We have to be strong for him as parents," Cooper said.
 
He added his son is not the person some people are making him out to be.
 
"They are trying to paint my son as this hoodlum, which he's not. He's a good kid," Cooper said.
 
The 20-year-old is facing a list of charges for allegedly walking into the administrative building at Paine College on Monday with a loaded gun and firing the weapon at another student.
 
"Do you think he shot that boy yesterday?" Byfield asked Cooper.
 
"I don't know what's going on," Cooper said.
 
Cooper spoke to Byfield before he and his wife drove to Augusta, his second trip in 24 hours.
 
Cooper said his son played football for Morehouse College and transferred to Paine College in January where he was hoping to join their football team.
 
According to Cooper, his son told him there has been escalating violence on campus for months.
 
"This has been going on down there, this has not just happened," Cooper mentioned, "He's not the kid that goes around and starts anything. He is going to defend himself."
 
"Do you think its self-defense?" Byfield asked.
 
"Like I said, he keeps telling his mother who ever the boys are they keep starting, they want to keep fighting," Cooper said.

WSBTV