As they were returning from a field trip with their class, three University of Virginia football stars were shot and killed by an ex-player who opened fire on their bus: After a 13-hour search, the suspect is captured.
At 10:15 p.m. yesterday, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, started shooting near a college parking garage, killing three individuals and injured another two. Along with Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr., wide receiver D’Sean Perry of the school’s squad was also killed. Perry had played for the team the day before. Despite their injuries, Mike Hollins and Dontayvion Wicks both lived.
They were all in Washington, DC for a field trip and had gone to see a play.
On Monday morning, approximately 12 hours after the incident, Jones was taken into custody for his involvement. Since then, college officials have disclosed that he was reported to the office of student affairs in September by a person who grew concerned when he told them that he possessed a pistol. This person’s concern stemmed from the fact that he had told them that he owned a gun.
No one knows for sure if he made any threats. He was also a part of an investigation into hazing. His family is going from Miami to Virginia right now.
Jones is described as a black male wearing blue pants, a burgundy jacket, and red shoes by Charlottesville police.
According to police, he might be operating a black SUV with the license plate TWX3580.
Lockdown has been imposed on the main campus of the University of Virginia as police claimed to be conducting a ‘complete’ check of the building.
Expect more law enforcement presence, according to the police.
In a letter to the community at roughly 4 am, University of Virginia President James E. Ryan confirmed the fatalities and expressed his “heartbreak” at learning that three persons had died in the incident.
Later, a Virginia state police aircraft was among the law enforcement agencies actively looking for the suspect, according to a Tweet from the UVA emergency account. The follow-up message reaffirmed the threat and weaponry of the suspect.
Update: President Jim Ryan delivered the following message to the University community at 4 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14:
I am writing to provide an update to the various community safety alerts the University has issued over the last several hours.
Around 10:30 p.m. last night, there was a shooting on Grounds. One of our students, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., is suspected to have committed the shooting. The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Multiple law enforcement agencies are coordinating to find and apprehend him. He was last seen wearing a burgundy jacket, blue jeans, and red shoes, and he may be driving a black SUV with VA license plate number TWX3580. First and foremost, please continue to follow the guidance you receive though the UVA alert system, which is currently to shelter in place.
As of this writing, I am heartbroken to report that the shooting has resulted in three fatalities; two additional victims were injured and are receiving medical care. We are working closely with the families of the victims, and we will share additional details as soon as we are able. Our University Police Department has joined forces with other law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect, and we will keep our community apprised of developments as the situation evolves.
This is a message any leader hopes never to have to send, and I am devastated that this violence has visited the University of Virginia. This is a traumatic incident for everyone in our community, and we have cancelled classes for today (Monday, Nov. 14). At this point only designated essential employees should report to work on Monday (all remote employees should continue to work remotely). If you are unsure of your status, please contact your supervisor.
We will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds. Please know we have support available if you need it. Students may call Counseling and Psychological Services at 434-243-5150, 24 hours a day. Information about CAPS is available on the Student Health and Wellness website. Faculty and staff can find a similar resource through the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program by calling 434-243-2643 or by emailing the office via the FEAP website.
For those who have questions about these events, including how to establish contact with family members or friends who are here on Grounds, please call the UVA Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.
