CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Three members of the University of Virginia football team died late Sunday in a shooting that also left two other students injured on the UVA campus in Charlottesville, authorities said.
Authorities took the suspect, previously identified as 22-year-old UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., into custody on Monday. He is expected to face charges including three counts of second-degree murder.
The victims were identified as D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler.
Here are the latest updates:
White House shares president’s condolences with friends, families of shooting victims
Update 1:25 p.m. EST Nov. 14: President Joe Biden and the first lady shared condolences with friends, families and neighbors of those grieving after Sunday’s shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“Too many families across America are bearing the awful burden of gun violence,” the statement said. “We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets.”
Biden administration officials are in contact with state and local officials investigating Sunday’s shooting.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Jones was previously a member of UVA football team
Update 11:50 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Jones was a UVA student who had previously been a member of the school’s football team before Sunday’s deadly shooting, officials confirmed.
University President Jim Ryan said that to his knowledge, Jones “was no longer on the football team and hadn’t been for over a year.”
Officials said Jones opened fire Sunday on a bus that had just returned from a school field trip to watch a play in Washington. Three people, identified as UVA football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis and D’Sean Perry, were killed. Two other people, identified only as UVA students, were injured.
The circumstances leading up to Sunday’s shooting remained unclear on Monday. Police Chief Tim Longo said Jones previously came to the attention of school officials after someone reported that he had claimed to have a gun. He was also associated with a report of hazing, although Longo was not able to provide additional information on his alleged involvement in the incident.
“I know that it was eventually closed due to witnesses that would not cooperate with the process,” Longo said.
Officials continue to investigate.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Jones to face second-degree murder, other charges
Update 11:25 a.m. EST Nov. 14: The man accused of killing three people and injuring two others Sunday in a shooting at UVA will face charges including three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said.
Longo said officials reviewed the facts and circumstances of the shooting and determined the charges. He added that if “there comes a point in time that those charges need to be amended and certain facts and circumstances arise that will cause us to do that, we’ll do that.”
Officials said Jones was taken into custody on Monday morning.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Suspect in custody after shooting leaves 3 dead, 2 injured
Update 11:18 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Authorities confirmed at a news conference on Monday morning that a suspect is in custody following the deadly shooting Sunday at UVA.
Chief Tim Longo of the UVA Police Department learned the suspect had been apprehended during Monday’s news conference.
“We’ve just received information, the suspect is in custody,” he said. “I just need a moment to thank God, breath a sigh of relief.”
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Slain victims identified by officials
Update 11:10 a.m. EST Nov. 14: University President Jim Ryan identified the three people killed in Sunday’s shooting as UVA football players Devin Chandler, a second-year student from Virginia Beach, Virginia; Lavel Davis, a third-year student from Ridgeville, South Carolina; and D’Sean Perry, a fourth-year student from Miami.
Ryan confirmed that two other students were wounded in the shooting, which he said happened on a bus full of students returning from a field trip. The injured students, who were not identified, were in good and critical condition, Ryan said.
“This is a sad, shocking and tragic day for our UVA community,” he said. Later, he added that “We do not yet have a full understanding of the motive and circumstances surrounding these events.”
“Police are investigating as we speak,” he said.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
2nd UVA football player identified as shooting victim
Update 11 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Family members have confirmed that UVA wide receiver Lavel Davis Jr. was one of two people killed in Sunday’s shooting, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
Earlier, family members told The Daily Press that UVA linebacker and defensive end D’Sean Perry was also slain.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Shelter in place order lifted at UVA
Update 10:55 a.m. EST Nov. 14: The shelter in place order issued for UVA has been lifted “based upon a thorough search on and around Grounds,” school officials said Monday morning.
“A large police presence will remain,” authorities added.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Search for suspect remains ongoing at UVA
Update 9:50 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Officials with the University of Virginia urged people to continue to shelter in place as authorities continue to search for a suspect in Sunday’s deadly shooting.
In an alert to students around 9:30 a.m., officials said an “active search (is) still underway on and around UVA Grounds.”
“Remain sheltered in place,” the alert said. “Please stay safe, thank you for your patience and understanding.”
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UVA football player identified as one of three slain victims
Update 8:55 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Family members identified UVA linebacker and defensive end D’Sean Perry as one of the three people killed in Sunday’s shooting, The Daily Progress reported.
Perry’s father, Sean Perry, confirmed the 22-year-old’s death to the newspaper.
On Monday morning, authorities continued to urge people to shelter in place as a search for the suspected shooter remained ongoing.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Virginia governor issues statement
Update 7:54 a.m. EST Nov. 14: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin took to social media Monday morning to say he and his wife, Suzanne, are “praying for the U.Va. community.”
“Virginia State Police is fully coordinating with UVA police department and local authorities,” his statement continued. “Please shelter in place while the authorities work to locate the suspect. For family and friends with questions about the event, University of Virginia has established an Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.”
Lockdown continues as police search campus, nearby areas
Update 7:34 a.m. EST Nov. 14: In a series of alerts Monday morning, the university’s Office of Emergency Management said police are conducting a “complete search” on campus grounds and in surrounding areas. Students should “remain sheltered in place until further notice” and expect to see an “increased law enforcement presence,” according to the alerts.
University president says suspect is student, still at large
Update 5:25 a.m. EST Nov. 14: In a statement early Monday, school President Jim Ryan said Jones is still “at large” following Sunday night’s deadly shooting, according to The Associated Press.
“One of our students, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., is suspected to have committed the shooting,” read the statement shared on Ryan’s Facebook page. “The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Multiple law enforcement agencies are coordinating to find and apprehend him.”
Ryan went on to say university officials are “working closely with the families of the victims” and will share more details “as soon as we are able.”
“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,” the statement continued. “This is a traumatic incident for everyone in our community, and we have canceled 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.”
3 killed, 2 hurt in shooting, police say
Update 4:52 a.m. EST Nov. 14: University police said three people were killed and two others were hurt in the shooting, according to WVIR and The Associated Press.
Suspect sought as students urged to shelter in place
Original report: Police are searching for a suspect after gunfire erupted late Sunday on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, authorities said.
According to The Washington Post and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. in a parking garage on Culbreth Road. University police said they responded to reports that shots were fired, but authorities have not revealed whether anyone was hurt or killed.
The school’s Office of Emergency Management immediately instructed students to shelter in place, the Times-Dispatch reported. An alert posted on the university’s website shortly before 3 a.m. Monday said students should continue to stay put.
University police said overnight that they are searching for a suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., in connection with the shooting, the news outlets reported. University emergency alerts said Jones, who is Black, was wearing blue jeans, a burgundy jacket and red shoes. He may be traveling in a black SUV with Virginia license plate TWX3580, police said.
“Call 911 if seen, do not approach,” university police wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of Jones.
A Virginia State Police helicopter and authorities from other agencies are involved in the manhunt, according to university alerts.
Please return for updates on this developing story.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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