Tragedy Strikes University of Virginia: Gunman Arrested After Fatal Shooting

Strategic Insights -

Students at the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration gathered for a silent vigil on Monday night, less than 24 hours after a gunman shot five of their classmates, three fatally, on a charter bus returning from a field trip. The victims were members of the university's football team, and two other students were wounded in the shooting. University President Jim Ryan identified the slain students as D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., and Devin Chandler. Ryan said the bus with about 25 students aboard had returned to the university from Washington, where the students had seen a play, when the gunman opened fire. Police did not know what led to the shooting.

Key Takeaways:

  • Students held a silent vigil on Monday night to honor the victims and offer support to their families.
  • Three members of the University of Virginia football team, D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., and Devin Chandler, were killed in the shooting.
  • The gunman, identified as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was arrested in a neighborhood just east of Richmond, Virginia.
  • Jones was booked into the Henrico County Jail and is facing three counts of second-degree murder and using a gun in a crime.
  • Jones had been a member of the university's football team in 2018, but had not been a member of the squad for some time.
  • University officials had received several reports of concern about Jones, including a report of him talking about having a gun and a hazing claim.
  • Jones had been charged with a concealed-weapon violation off university grounds, but had not reported it to the university as required.
  • The university's threat assessment team had received a report about Jones in the fall of 2022, but he had not been deemed a significant threat.
  • The university has canceled classes for the remainder of the week and a formal vigil is planned in the coming days.

Statistics:

  • 3 students were killed in the shooting: D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., and Devin Chandler.
  • 2 students were wounded in the shooting.
  • 25 students were on the charter bus when the gunman opened fire.
  • Jones was arrested in a neighborhood just east of Richmond, Virginia.
  • Jones is facing 3 counts of second-degree murder and using a gun in a crime.
  • The university's threat assessment team had received a report about Jones in the fall of 2022.
  • The university canceled classes for the remainder of the week.

Sources:

  • University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
  • Dave Hendrick, "Students Participate in Silent Vigil After Deadly Shooting at UVA" (no date or publication information provided)
  • University of Virginia President Jim Ryan's statement (no date or publication information provided)
  • University of Virginia Athletics records
  • Henrico Police Department press release (no date or publication information provided)