Three dead in shooting on U-Va. campus

The college recognized a pupil, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., because the suspect. It didn’t instantly determine the victims.

“As of this writing, I’m heartbroken to report that the capturing has resulted in three fatalities; two extra victims have been injured and are receiving medical care,” U-Va. President James E. Ryan wrote in a message to the group at about 4 a.m. “We’re working carefully with the households of the victims, and we are going to share extra element as quickly as we’re ready.

“Our College Police Division has joined forces with different legislation enforcement companies to apprehend the suspect, and we are going to preserve our group apprised of developments because the state of affairs evolves.”

Courses for Monday have been canceled.

At 6:09 a.m. Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) tweeted: “This morning, Suzanne and I are praying for the UVA group. Virginia State Police is absolutely coordinating with UVA police division and native authorities. Please shelter in place whereas the authorities work to find the suspect.”

Gunfire was reported on the storage on Culbreth Highway about 10:30 p.m., the College of Virginia Workplace of Emergency Administration mentioned.

College police mentioned in a tweet that they have been searching for Jones “concerning the capturing incident.” Jones is 22 and could also be a former soccer participant, in accordance with a 2018 roster. Police later described Jones as a suspect within the capturing. There was a large manhunt for Jones into the early morning hours, involving a state police helicopter and a number of legislation enforcement companies.

Police mentioned the suspect was sporting a burgundy jacket or hoodie, with blue denims and pink sneakers. They mentioned he could also be driving a black SUV with Virginia plates.

Jones, in accordance with a U-Va. sports activities web site, was a freshman on the soccer staff in 2018 however didn’t seem in any video games. He had beforehand performed linebacker and working again at Petersburg Excessive College in Virginia. Earlier than that, he spent three years at Varina Excessive College, the place he was an completed participant. It was not instantly recognized whether or not he’s nonetheless a U-Va. pupil, however two college students mentioned he nonetheless is listed within the U-Va. listing.

Simply earlier than midnight, the emergency administration workplace urged college students to proceed sheltering in place and to “attain out to mates & household and advise of your standing.” The shelter in place order was nonetheless in impact at 4 a.m.

In a message that adopted about 1:15 a.m., Vice President and Dean of College students Robyn S. Hadley exhorted the group: “Please, please take the shelter in place instructions severely because the state of affairs stays energetic.” Later, the emergency administration workplace mentioned a number of police companies have been “actively trying to find the suspect.”

The report of the shootings startled college students and others on campus because the weekend was winding down.

“The second all of us bought that message that there was an energetic shooter, my cellphone flooded with messages,” mentioned Eva Surovell, 21, of Alexandria, Va., who’s editor in chief of the Cavalier Each day pupil newspaper. “Persons are genuinely scared.”

As of two a.m. Monday, Surovell mentioned she was sheltering in her room on the college’s famed Garden. She mentioned she had been in contact together with her mother and her sister at James Madison College to reassure them. “You simply don’t actually suppose one thing may occur like this to your group till it does.”

Danielle Werchowsky of Arlington, whose son is a pupil at U-Va., mentioned: “UVA mother and father are glued to our social media proper now. … Dad and mom are all on edge.” She mentioned she urged her son in a cellphone name to show off the lights in his condo and steer clear of home windows.

Culbreth Highway and the storage, the place photographs have been heard, are about half a mile north of the garden and the Rotunda and close to different campus buildings.

Household and mates with questions have been urged to name a U-Va. Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.

This isn’t the primary time this yr {that a} capturing has rocked a university campus in Virginia. In February, two campus cops at Bridgewater School have been fatally shot after they have been testing a report of a “suspicious man” close to a classroom constructing. The suspect linked to their deaths was a former pupil.

Additionally in February, a late-night capturing at a hookah lounge close to the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg left one individual lifeless and 4 injured, police mentioned. In 2007, Virginia Tech skilled one of many worst mass shootings in U.S. historical past when an undergraduate pupil killed 32 individuals, and himself, on April 16 of that yr.

This can be a growing story and shall be up to date.