The University of Virginia was locked down and classes were cancelled on Monday morning as police searched for a student in connection with a fatal shooting the previous night. The university’s president confirmed in a letter to the community that three people were killed and two others wounded in the shooting on Sunday evening.
The suspect, identified as university student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. by UVA President Jim Ryan, remained at large.
The warning for students and staff to shelter in place came late Sunday night following after a report of shots being fired on the campus. The university’s emergency management issued an alert on Twitter at 10:42 p.m. of an “active attacker firearm.”
“There has been a shooting on Culbreth Road and the suspect is at large and considered armed and dangerous,” Ryan said in a tweet, asking the university community to “please shelter in place.”
Ryan later sent out the letter with the message to the university community, saying he was “heartbroken to report that the shooting has resulted in three fatalities,” with two others being hospitalized and treated for unspecified wounds.
The UVA Police Department also posted a notice online saying multiple police agencies were searching for a suspect who was considered “armed and dangerous.”
Ryan said in his Monday morning letter that only designated essential staff should come to work.
A UVA student who was in her dormitory room near Culbreth Road said she heard six shots fired, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
Three people are dead and two others are hurt after a shooting on the University of Virginia campus.
The Charlottesville campus is currently under lockdown as the suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Just before 11 p.m., UVA’s emergency management office advised that a shooting had taken place on Culbreth Road, near the heart of campus.
UVA police has identified the suspect as Christopher Darnell Jones.
He is described as a Black male with a burgundy jacket, blue jeans and red shoes. UVA police believe he may be driving a black SUV with the VA license plate number TWX-3580.
Jones is a former UVA football player from the Petersburg area. He played linebacker and and running back at Petersburg High School before heading to college.
Several police agencies including UVA Police and VA State Police are searching for Jones. UVA Police says a Virginia State Police helicopter is in the air.
Students, staff and nearby residents are advised to continue sheltering in place. You can find the latest information on the school’s emergency management page.
UVA President Jim Ryan in a letter addressed to students and staff has announced that classes will be canceled for today.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Multiple police agencies and a Virginia State Police helicopter are searching for a suspect they say is armed and dangerous after a shooting at UVA.
“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 detail as soon as we are able,” said Jim Ryan, UVA president.
UVA police say the suspect, Chris Darnell Jones could be wearing a burgundy jacket, jeans and red shoes. He may be driving a black SUV with VA Tag TWX3580. Jones is a student at UVA, according to the university president.