Police apprehended a 19-year-old individual who was discovered hiding in a dormitory closet at Virginia State University. This arrest was made in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on campus, resulting in five individuals sustaining injuries, one of whom is in critical condition. Camron Harris of Henrico, Va., is not affiliated with the university, and four of the injured individuals were also not students at the institution, as confirmed by Chesterfield County Police.
The injured individuals, aged between 17 and 23, included a 20-year-old student who has since been discharged from the hospital. The names of the victims have not been disclosed by authorities. The motive behind the shooting remains undisclosed, and the police have issued eight felony warrants for Harris, including charges for malicious wounding and firearm use during a felony. It is currently unclear whether Harris has legal representation to speak on his behalf.
Although the university initially reported that multiple suspects were being sought, no further information was provided by the police regarding the ongoing investigation on Saturday. Earlier, the university assured that there was no immediate threat to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the campus lockdown. The shooting transpired shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, prompting the lockdown and unsettling students who were preparing for the new academic year.
The incident took place adjacent to the Quad Annexes on the university campus, where law enforcement officers discovered five gunshot victims outside the dormitories. The university had recently opened its residence halls for students, with classes set to resume on Monday after the completion of the “New Trojans Experience” orientation program for new students.
Virginia State University, a historically Black institution situated in Ettrick, Va., approximately 40 kilometers south of Richmond, is home to around 5,700 students. The university, which primarily enrolls undergraduate students, was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans. The campus was heavily monitored by law enforcement on Saturday, and students were advised to stay updated via email regarding safety measures and support services.
The university expressed deep concern for the affected students and the wider VSU community, emphasizing student safety as the top priority. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, were providing assistance in the investigation. Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education, lamented the tragic event occurring at the start of the academic year, conveying sympathy for the victims and hoping for their swift recovery and resilience amidst the impact of the incident.