CNN
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The College of Virginia canceled lessons Tuesday because it “continues to work by way of the emotional toll” of Sunday’s taking pictures that left three of the varsity’s soccer gamers useless and two others injured.
The taking pictures prompted an hours-long manhunt extending from Sunday night time into Monday morning. It ended when the alleged gunman, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was arrested in Henrico County, about 80 miles east of Charlottesville. Jones faces three prices of second-degree homicide and three counts of utilizing a handgun within the fee of a felony, UVA Police Chief Timothy Longo Sr. stated Monday.
Police haven’t supplied a motive for the assault.
The three gamers who died within the taking pictures had been recognized as extensive receivers Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr. together with linebacker D’Sean Perry, based on the college.
Two different college students had been additionally injured, however solely one among them – Michael Hollins – was recognized. The 2 wounded college students are being handled at UVA Medical Heart, with one in crucial situation and the opposite in good situation, UVA spokesperson Brian Coy stated, declining to call them.
A wave of help – each domestically and nationwide – flowed into Charlottesville after the information broke Monday. The college held a candlelight vigil Monday, drawing a whole lot to the campus, based on a tweeted picture from the varsity’s soccer crew.
The women’s basketball team at rival Virginia Tech wore “#HokiesforHoos” shirts Monday.
The University of Wisconsin, the place Chandler beforehand performed, launched an announcement saying their program was “deeply saddened ” by the tragic deaths.
“This can be a troublesome time for gamers and employees due to the lasting impression Devin had on his associates and teammates,” the assertion learn. “Our ideas exit to his household, associates and the Virginia soccer household.”
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on the taking pictures shortly after swearing in a brand new ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday.
“It’s tragic,” Harris stated. “After all, our prayers are with the households of the victims and it’s simply but a continuing reminder that we now have to do higher by way of gun security legal guidelines in our nation.”
At the very least 68 shootings have unfolded this 12 months on US college grounds, together with 15 on school campuses, with at the least one individual shot in every case, not together with the shooter. The deadliest college taking pictures in fashionable US historical past stays the 2007 assault at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, the place a 23-year-old pupil killed 32 folks earlier than dying by suicide.
The taking pictures on the Charlottesville campus can also be one among practically 600 mass shootings within the US this 12 months, based on the Gun Violence Archive, which like CNN tallies circumstances by which at the least 4 persons are shot, excluding the shooter.
The taking pictures at UVA came about Sunday as a category was getting back from a visit to Washington, DC. The category had seen a play, college officers stated, and it was not instantly clear if Jones was a part of that class or attended the sector journey.
Police responded to a report of pictures fired round 10:30 p.m. in an space close to a parking storage on Culbreth Street and surrounded by tutorial buildings, college President Jim Ryan stated. Two slain victims had been contained in the bus, with the third sufferer taken to a hospital, the place he died, stated Longo, the varsity’s police chief.
The decision prompted a shelter-in-place alert that was lifted about 12 hours later, Longo stated. Greater than 500 folks sheltered all through campus buildings, together with in libraries and lecture rooms, he stated.
Courses at UVA and for Charlottesville metropolis colleges had been canceled Monday on account of the taking pictures.
Authorities launched a manhunt for Jones following the assault Sunday. Then, round 11 a.m. ET Monday, a Henrico County police officer noticed the automobile Jones was driving within the japanese space of the county the place he was “taken into custody with out incident,” based on information launch from the police division.
Jones is listed on UVA’s athletics web site as a soccer participant in 2018 who as a freshman didn’t take part in any video games. He attended Varina Excessive College and Petersburg Excessive College, the place he performed soccer as a linebacker and operating again, based on his college athletics bio.
A UVA spokesperson advised CNN Jones had a pre-existing damage that prevented him from enjoying on the soccer crew in 2018. Jones went by way of medical therapy and rehabilitation throughout his time with the crew and was solely a member of the crew for one season, the spokesperson says.
The spokesperson wouldn’t give particulars on Jones’ damage.
Jones had beforehand been on the radar of campus authorities. In September, authorities came upon Jones “had made a remark about possessing a gun” to somebody “unaffiliated with the college,” Longo stated at Monday’s information convention. However that individual by no means really noticed the gun in query, he stated.
“By way of the course of the menace evaluation crew’s investigation, we discovered of a previous felony incident involving a hid weapon violation that occurred exterior the town of Charlotteville in February of 2021,” Longo stated, including the suspect was required to report that incident to the college however by no means did. The college’s judicial council took over the case, and the outcomes are pending.
Jones was additionally concerned in a hazing investigation on campus that was closed as a result of witnesses wouldn’t cooperate, Longo stated.
All three victims and one of many two injured had been confirmed to be UVA soccer gamers.
Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from South Carolina, was one of many high extensive receivers for the Virginia Cavaliers this season. As a 6-foot-7-inch receiver, Davis was the team’s primary deep threat, with 16 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns on the 12 months, good for a stellar 23.2 yards per catch.
D’Sean Perry, a junior linebacker, has performed in 15 video games during the last three seasons. On Saturday in opposition to Pittsburgh, he tallied two tackles within the 37-7 loss. In an announcement by way of their legal professional, Michael Haggard, Perry’s mother and father thanked the South Florida and Charlottesville communities for the help they’ve obtained for the reason that taking pictures.
Devin Chandler, a junior extensive receiver and kick returner, had lately transferred to UVA this offseason from the College of Wisconsin.
One of many two injured college students was recognized as Michael Hollins, based on Andrew Martin, the top soccer coach on the College Lab College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hollins is a junior operating again for UVA, based on the crew’s roster. CNN has reached out to Hollins’ household however has not obtained a response.
Hollins’ father, Michael Hollins Sr., advised The Washington Publish his son was shot within the again with the bullet lodged in his abdomen. Hollins Sr. advised the Publish he’s anticipated to get better.
Hollins was anticipated to graduate in December with a level in entrepreneurship and African American historical past, his father advised the Publish.