The University of Virginia (UVA) canceled classes on Monday after a student opened fire on campus Sunday night, killing three and wounding two.
The suspect, identified as UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., remained at large until early Monday afternoon. After conducting an extensive search, authorities were able to apprehend Jones. A campuswide lockdown initiated after the shooting has also been lifted.
According to CBS News, Jones played for the university’s football team in 2018 as a freshman.
“There has been a shooting on Culbreth Road, and the suspect is at large and considered armed and dangerous,” UVA President Jim Ryan tweeted, urging the university community to “please shelter in place.”
There has been a shooting on Culbreth Road and the suspect is at large and considered armed and dangerous.
Please follow @UVA_EM for updated alerts, as we ask the @UVA community to please shelter in place. https://t.co/A6Vrirxq0N— Jim Ryan (@presjimryan) November 14, 2022
UVA’s emergency management sent out an alert on Twitter early Monday morning, describing the suspect as “A BLACK MAN, WEARING A BURGANDY JACKET OR HOODIE, BLUE JEANS, RED SHOES.”
UVA Alert: SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS A BLACK MAN, WEARING A BURGANDY JACKET OR HOODIE, BLUE JEANS, RED SHOES.
— UVA Emergency Management (@UVA_EM) November 14, 2022
In a statement later posted by Ryan, he noted that at least three people were killed, and two were receiving medical care after they were injured from the shooting.
“I am holding the victims, their families, and all members of the University of Virginia community in my heart today, and we will make plans to come together as a community to grieve as soon as the suspect is apprehended,” Ryan said in a statement published early Monday morning.
An update on the active shooter incident at UVA: pic.twitter.com/LLshF8JJcR
— Jim Ryan (@presjimryan) November 14, 2022
He added that only designated essential employees should report to work on Monday.
One of the deceased victims is UVA linebacker D’ Sean Perry, who just played a game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. His parents plan to fly to the school from his hometown of Miami on Monday. Another football player, wide receiver Lavel David Jr., was also killed in the shooting, according to a tweet from his cousin. The names of the other murdered victim and those injured have not yet been released.
Em Gunter, a UVA sophomore, said she had been listening to a lecture in her dorm room at around 10:15 pm on Sunday when she heard six gunshots fired. She immediately relayed a message to the other residents in her building and told them to stay inside.
“I just have no words,” Gunter said. “This is insane.”
On Monday, UVA’s Emergency Management team stated that an active search was “still underway on and around” campus grounds and that students must remain sheltered in place.
Update: Active search still underway on and around UVA Grounds. Remain sheltered in place. Please stay safe, thank you for your patience and understanding.
— UVA Emergency Management (@UVA_EM) November 14, 2022
This is a developing story.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Win McNamee/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
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