November 14, 2022 UVA shooting news

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Police chief learns shooting suspect is in custody on live TV. See his reaction
02:39 - Source: CNN

What we covered here

  • A University of Virginia student suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding two others Sunday at the school’s main campus in Charlottesville has been taken into custody, officials said.
  • Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., the 22-year-old suspect, is a UVA student who is listed as a member of the football team in 2018.
  • The three students who were killed were football players, school officials said.
24 Posts

Our live coverage has ended for the day. You can read more here.

UVA professor explains what two shooting victims were like in his class

Jack Hamilton, an Associate Professor of Media Studies and American Studies at the University of Virginia, said two of the shooting victims were his students and were positive influences on the class.

Devin Chandler was his student in the spring, and Lavel Davis was in his class this semester, Hamilton said.

“I am so indescribably sad right now but I wanted to share a few memories of them, because they were wonderful people,” he wrote.

“devin was new to uva last spring (he was a transfer student) and I had him in a large lecture class. he nevertheless made a point to come to my office hours repeatedly, often just to ask questions about how things worked around uva.

“later i helped him declare his american studies major, which he was really excited about. he was an unbelievably nice person, always a huge smile, really gregarious and funny. one of those people who’s just impossible not to like. it is so sad and enraging that he is gone.

“lavel was quieter than devin (at least in my experience) but was also such a nice guy. after our first day of class this semester he made a point to come up and shake my hand and told me I should call him vel.

“one thing that struck me about vel was how much his classmates liked him and vice versa. in my experience star athletes often tend to hang out with other athletes (understandable, given the time commitment) but vel seemed to go out of his way to make friends with non-athletes.

“anyways I am just stunned and devastated and completely at a loss but wanted to say all this because they were great people with truly limitless futures and they should still be here. it breaks my heart.”

Chandler, Davis and D’Sean Perry were killed in the shooting on Sunday night.

Henrico Police officer spotted suspect's car prior to arrest, police say

The UVA shooting suspect was taken into custody Monday after a Henrico Police officer spotted the vehicle in the eastern part of the county, police said Monday afternoon.

Henrico Police officers had been on the lookout for the vehicle since the shooting late Sunday.

After being spotted, he was arrested without incident in Henrico County, located in the greater Richmond area, about 75 miles from Charlottesville.

Injured student remains in critical condition, UVA says

One of the UVA students who was shot on Sunday night remains in critical condition, and the other injured student is in good condition as of Monday afternoon, UVA spokesperson Brian Coy said.

UVA is currently not releasing the identities of the students “out of respect for their privacy,” according to Coy.

In addition to the two injured students, three students were killed in the shooting.

UVA football teammates react to killings

A number of current University of Virginia football players reacted to the news that three of their teammates – Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. – had been killed in a shooting on campus Sunday night.

Xavier Brown, UVA running back:

Zachary Teter, UVA lineman:

Josh McCarron, UVA linebacker:

Sean Wilson, UVA receiver:

Terrell Jones, UVA defensive end:

In addition, the Wisconsin football program offered its condolences and memories of Devin Chandler, who transferred from Wisconsin to Virginia prior to this season.

“Devin was a tremendous young man and a great teammate. He will be greatly missed,” Wisconsin football said. “This is a difficult time for our players and staff because of the lasting impact Devin had on his friends and teammates. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and the Virginia Football family.”

Wisconsin Interim Head Coach Jim Leonhard also issued a statement praising Chandler.

“I was shocked and saddened to hear of Devin’s passing. He had a lasting impact on his teammates, even after he left UW, which is a testament to the type of person he was. His personality was infectious and he was a joy to be around. Our team is hurting for him and his family. I want to personally extend my condolences to his family and the Virginia football family,” he said.

Here's the moment police chief learned the suspect was in custody

UVA Police Chief Tim Longo was speaking to the public about what police knew about the shooting suspect midday Monday when he was pulled aside by a fellow law enforcement official.

The official whispered a few words into his ear, and Longo returned to the podium.

“We’ve just received information the suspect is in custody,” Longo said.

Longo then stood in silence for about 25 seconds.

“I just need a moment to thank God,” he said, cracking a smile, “breathe a sigh of relief.”

The moment begins about 55 seconds into the below video:

Bus that was site of shooting towed away from campus

Police investigators work around the bus at the site of the shooting at the University of Virginia on Monday.

The bus that was the site of the mass shooting at UVA on Sunday night was towed away from the campus on Monday afternoon.

A window on the back-left side of the bus appeared to be damaged by a gunshot.

UVA officials said the shooting took place on the charter bus, which had just returned to campus from Washington DC for a class field trip. The suspect and all of those shot were UVA students.

Local city and county say to expect increased police presence

Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville released a joint statement calling Sunday’s University of Virginia shooting that left three dead and two injured “heartbreaking.”

“We are grateful to the law enforcement personnel across the Commonwealth for their efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect,” the statement said.  

Public safety officials for the county and city are assisting the investigation, the statement said, and residents should “expect to see police activity and an increased security presence throughout the community.”

Two shooting witnesses say they saw people running off the bus

Two 21-year-old UVA students who witnessed part of Sunday night’s shooting and called 911 spoke to CNN on Monday about their experiences.

The students, both 21 and in their fourth year at UVA, said they were walking to the gym when they passed by the area and noticed the moving charter bus.

Just after 10 p.m., they heard faint popping noises, but didn’t think anything of it. The bus was going over a speed bump, and then they saw the bus stop and the emergency lights go on. The bus doors opened and people ran out of the bus, and one person fell to the ground, they said.

When they saw the people running, they hid in front of the band building behind a brick wall. They waited there and called 911 at 10:17 p.m., the students said. The call wasn’t answered, but they hung up when they heard sirens in the distance and saw law enforcement arrive.

Once they knew they were safe, they walked past the bus and saw a woman with blood in her leg being treated.

They said they saw two people running from the bus – one whose description matched what the suspect was wearing.

The students said they did not want to be on camera or identified.

ACC commissioner laments "devastating and senseless loss"

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Commissioner Jim Phillips offered his condolences Monday after three University of Virginia students were killed and two were injured.

“There are simply no words that can fully express our collective pain over their devastating and senseless loss,” Phillips said in a statement. “Earlier this morning, I expressed to President Ryan and Director of Athletics Carla Williams that the ACC family stands ready in support of all members of the Cavalier family, and we will do whatever is asked of us in the days and weeks ahead. Our focus is on the young men and women impacted by this tragedy.

“As I previously shared, the ACC is a family, and we are all heartbroken. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, teammates and classmates of Devin, Lavel and D’Sean, and to the entire University of Virginia community.”

Separately, UVA’s men’s basketball game scheduled for Monday night has been canceled, the athletic department announced. No. 18 Virginia was set to play Northern Iowa at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.

Parents of shooting victim D'Sean Perry thank local communities for support

D'Sean Perry

The parents of D’Sean Perry, one of the three UVA students killed Sunday night, thanked the South Florida and Charlottesville communities for the support they’ve received since the shooting, according to their attorney Michael Haggard.

“On behalf of D’Sean’s parents, Happy and Sean Perry, and their entire family, we thank the South Florida and Charlottesville communities for the outpouring of support during this impossibly tragic time,” Haggard said in a statement to CNN.

In the statement, Perry’s parents also said they would not speak publicly about their son’s passing out of respect for the University of Virginia community, which “has been terrorized by another mass shooting in the United States.”

Perry is originally from Miami, Florida and was in his junior year at the University of Virginia, where he played as a linebacker on the football team, according to the university’s website.

UVA shooting suspect was arrested without incident in Henrico County, Virginia

UVA shooting suspect Chris Jones was arrested without incident in Henrico County, Virginia, after county police pulled him over while he was driving a vehicle, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Henrico Police confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying Jones was taken into custody just before 11 a.m. in the 5700 block of Edgelawn Street.

The location in Henrico County, in the Richmond area, is about 75 miles from Charlottesville, or more than an hourlong drive.

State and federal prosecutors assisting local agencies with UVA shooting investigation

State and federal prosecutors are assisting local agencies in their efforts to “thoroughly investigate” the shooting at the University of Virginia, they said in a joint statement.

“Today, we join the University of Virginia, City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County communities in mourning the lives of three innocent members of our community,” said the statement from US Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Charlottesville Joseph D. Platania, and Commonwealth’s Attorney for Albemarle County James M. Hingeley.

The officials pledged to support the investigation and “bring possible charges in the appropriate jurisdiction” for the “tragic incident,” the statement said.

“We also hope for a full recovery for the two victims who were wounded during this incident,” the statement noted.

The three victims played receiver and linebacker for UVA football team

The three UVA students who were shot and killed on Sunday night were football players with a track record of on-field success.

Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from South Carolina, was one of the top wide receivers for the 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 year, good for a stellar 23.2 yards per catch.

As a freshman in 2020, he had 20 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns – an average of 25.75 yards per catch, second-best in the country – but missed the 2021 season due to injury.

In a May 2021 video on UVA Football’s Twitter, Davis said outside of class he enjoyed watching 90s movies and reading Shakespeare plays and the Bible.

“Virginia is the perfect place for anybody who wants to work hard and be great,” he said. “At Virginia, it’s way bigger than football.”

D’Sean Perry, a junior from Miami, Florida, was a linebacker for Virginia who has played in 15 games over the last three seasons. On Saturday against Pittsburgh, he tallied two tackles in the 37-7 loss.

Devin Chandler, a junior, was a wide receiver and kick returner for UVA who transferred this offseason from the University of Wisconsin. UVA President Jim Ryan said he was from Virginia Beach, although the UVA football roster listed his hometown as Huntersville, North Carolina.

Suspect was investigated in September after report he had a gun

Chris Jones, the suspect in the UVA shooting, had been investigated by campus officials in September after someone reported Jones made a comment about owning a gun, according to UVA Police Chief Tim Longo.

The Office of Student Affairs reported to the multidisciplinary threat assessment team they received information from a non-student about Jones possessing a gun.

To the best of the police’s knowledge, the person did not actually see the gun. The comment about owning a gun was not made in conjunction with any threats, Longo said.

The Office of Student Affairs followed up with the reporting party and made efforts to contact Mr. Jones, Longo said. The office also followed up with Jones’ roommate, who did not report seeing a weapon, the chief said.

Jones was also involved in a hazing investigation on campus, Longo said, but the investigation was eventually closed due to witnesses who would not cooperate.

“Through the course of the threat assessment team’s investigation, we learned of a prior criminal incident involving a concealed weapon violation that occurred outside the city of Charlottesville in February of 2021,” Longo said.

Longo said Jones was required to report that to the University, but he never did. The University’s judicial council took over the case and the results are still pending.

Suspect in UVA shootings is now in custody, police chief says

Chris Jones

Chris Jones, the 22-year-old suspect in the mass shooting on UVA’s campus, is now in custody, UVA Police chief Tim Longo said Monday.

Longo made the announcement in the midst of a news conference after another law enforcement official whispered into his ear. Minutes early, Longo and other officials had said Jones was still at large.

Authorities did an “exhaustive” building by building search of the campus, and “are confident the suspect has left the area,” President Jim Ryan said earlier.

Jones faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, Longo said.

Shooting took place on bus returning from class field trip

The UVA shooting on Sunday night occurred on a bus of students who were returning to campus from a field trip in Washington DC, school president Jim Ryan said.

The field trip was to see a play associated with the class, a school administrator said.

The shooting took place in the Culbreth parking garage on UVA’s campus.

All three shooting victims were UVA football players, president says

Left to right: Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr.

All three of the victims of the UVA shooting were football players, UVA president Jim Ryan said Monday morning.

The victims were identified as Devin Chandler, a junior from Virginia Beach; Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from South Carolina; and D’Sean Perry, a 4th-year student from Miami, Florida.

Two other students were wounded, with one in good condition and one in critical condition, Ryan said.

“This is a sad shocking and tragic day for our UVA community,” Ryan said.

The suspect, identified as Christopher Jones Jr., is a UVA student who is listed on the university’s athletic website as a running back for the football team in 2018.

UVA lifts shelter-in-place order after "thorough search"

A Virginia Department of Corrections canine team searches the University of Virginia on Monday.

The shelter-in-place order for UVA has been lifted, the University of Virginia Office of Emergency Management said.

“The UVA shelter in place order has been lifted based upon a thorough search on and around Grounds. A large police presence will remain,” it said.

The shelter in place order went into effect not long after 10:30 p.m. ET, according to another tweet, after a gunman killed three people and injured two others.

Virginia's US senators respond to shooting

US Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats of Virginia, responded Monday morning to the UVA shooting by offering their thoughts and support to those affected.

“Thinking of all impacted by the tragic act of violence on UVa’s campus. Please continue to follow all guidance from local law enforcement as they continue to coordinate the search for the perpetrator,” Warner said.

Kaine said he was “heartbroken” by the shooting.

“Heartbroken to hear of another Virginia community devastated by gun violence. Praying for the UVA community and closely monitoring the situation,” Kaine said on Twitter. “We must take further action to make our communities safer.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin “praying for the UVA community”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin tweeted he and his wife “are praying for the UVA community,” following a shooting that left three dead and two others wounded at the University of Virginia.

Youngkin tweeted in full, “This morning, Suzanne and I are praying for the UVA community. Virginia State Police is fully coordinating with UVA police department and local authorities. Please shelter in place while the authorities work to locate the suspect.”

“For family and friends with questions about the event, @UVA has established an Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836,” he added.

UVA classes and Charlottesville schools canceled, and city offices closed amid manhunt

A Virginia State Police crime scene investigation truck is set up at the University of Virginia on Monday.

Much of Charlottesville shut down Monday morning as police searched for the suspect in the University of Virginia shooting.

UVA canceled classes Monday and told residents to remain sheltered in place.

Charlottesville City Schools, which includes more than 4,000 students, canceled classes Monday, “in order to give police time to investigate while they search for the suspect in our community,” the school system said on its website.

Further, Charlottesville City Offices are closed, the city said in a news alert posted online.

“Following a tragedy at the University of Virginia last night, UVA has canceled classes today and remains under advisement to ‘shelter in place,’ ” the city said. “Charlottesville City Offices will be closed today, November 14th, in order to provide police time to investigate while the suspect remains at large. Safety is our top priority.”

UVA shooting suspect was on football team in 2018

Police secure the scene of the shooting at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Monday.

Chris Jones, the suspect in the shooting on the UVA’s campus, is listed on the university’s athletics website as a running back for the football team in 2018, who as a freshman did not participate in any games.

It is unclear if the site has been updated recently. UVA President Jim Ryan identified him as a student at UVA.

Jones was also a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society while in high school, according to his university athletics bio.

He went to Varina High School and Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia, where he played linebacker and running back, his bio said.

Jones attended Varina High School for three years, “where he earned honorable mention all-conference as a freshman and second-team accolades as a sophomore and junior … member of the National Honor Society … National Technical Honor Society … president of Key Club … president of Jobs for Virginia Grads Program … named Student of the Year as a freshman and sophomore at Varina … ” his bio says.

CNN has reached out to UVA Athletics for comment.

Police are searching for an ex-football player suspected in the University of Virginia shooting

A manhunt is underway for a University of Virginia student suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding two others late Sunday at the school’s main campus in Charlottesville, where students and others remain on lockdown, police and the university’s president said.

Police teams on the ground and by helicopter Monday morning are searching for ex-football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who is believed to be armed and dangerous, university president Jim Ryan and police said Monday. Darnell is described as wearing a burgundy jacket with bluejeans and red shoes, and may be driving a black SUV with license plate TWX3580, police said.

“The law enforcement search on and around UVA grounds continues. Remain sheltered in place. Expect increased law enforcement presence,” UVA Police tweeted around 7:30 a.m. ET. Monday’s classes are canceled.