Suspect in Custody After Shooting at University of Virginia Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Wounded

Police have arrested a University of Virginia (UVA) student who allegedly shot and killed three students and injured two others, according to officials.

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., an former football player for UVA, was taken into custody Monday morning after a 12-hour manhunt for the Sunday night shootings that occurred on campus, the University of Virginia Police Department said.

The three students killed were all members of the football team and have been identified as Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry. The two other students who were injured have not been identified, but one is in critical condition. Police said the two injured students are being treated at the UVA Medical Center.

Jones is being charged with 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 during a press conference Monday morning.

Longo said the shooting happened at about 10:16 p.m. on Sunday at the Culbreth Garage parking deck on UVA Central Grounds. The shooting occurred on a school bus as students were arriving from a field trip to see a play in Washington.

Two of the students who were killed were found inside the school bus when police arrived at the scene. The third student killed was found nearby, along with two others who were injured.

After the shooting, police initiated a shelter-in-place order for the community of Charlottesville, Virginia, near the university, which has since been lifted. All classes at UVA were canceled on Monday. Charlottesville City Schools also canceled classes for more than 4,000 local students.

“This is a sad, shocking, and tragic day for our UVA community,” said UVA President Jim Ryan at the press conference. “Let me say how deeply sorry I am for the victims and for their family and friends. … The University is providing any and every available assistance.”

Investigators have yet to establish a motive for the shooting. Memorials and tributes for those killed during the attack are expected to be announced in the days to come.

“When I see our students, I see my own kids. I cannot imagine anything worse for a parent than to lose a child,” Ryan said. “Please know that we will do everything we can to honor their lives and will come together soon as a community to mourn these losses.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.