A capturing on the University of Virginia left three individuals useless and at the very least two others injured, sparking a manhunt for a suspect Monday and earlier warnings for college students to “shelter in place” or “RUN HIDE FIGHT.”
Gunfire was initially reported at a parking storage on Culbreth Highway, close to the varsity’s drama constructing, at round 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the University of Virginia Workplace of Emergency Administration stated in a tweet.
“I’m heartbroken to report that the capturing has resulted in three fatalities,” Jim Ryan, the college’s president, stated later in an electronic mail to college students. He stated two further victims have been additionally injured within the capturing and have been receiving medical care. He didn’t launch names of the deceased.
“This can be a message any chief hopes by no means to should ship, and I’m devastated that this violence has visited the University of Virginia,” Ryan stated. He stated courses could be cancelled for Monday, with solely designated important staff anticipated to report back to work.
Authorities stated they have been searching for Christopher Darnell Jones in reference to the lethal capturing. Ryan described Jones as “one in all our college students” in his message.
“Name 911 if seen, don’t method,” the University of Virginia Police Division warned in a tweet, sharing a photograph of Jones.
The identical picture seems on a profile for Jones in a 2018 soccer roster shared on the official web site for the Virginia Cavaliers. The profile says Jones didn’t seem in any video games that yr.
The suspect was final seen carrying a burgundy jacket, blue denims and pink sneakers, the college’s emergency administration workplace stated, including that he might be driving a black SUV.
In a later replace shared at round 2:55 a.m. EST, the college’s emergency administration workplace stated a number of businesses, together with a Virginia State Police helicopter, have been nonetheless trying to find the suspect.
The workplace warned that the suspect was nonetheless thought-about “armed and harmful,” because it repeated requires residents to shelter in place because the manhunt passed off.
Legislation enforcement have been doing a complete search on and around the campus grounds round 6 a.m. and a shelter in place order remained in place.
“We’ve all acquired a number of shelter in place texts, and they’re horrifying,” Robyn S. Hadley, vp and dean of scholars on the University of Virginia, stated in an email despatched out to college students. “I’m on Grounds like lots of you; I’m sheltering in place and in direct contact with University management and UPD.”
“Please, please take the shelter in place instructions severely because the state of affairs stays lively,” Hadley wrote.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated early Monday it was helping within the investigation into the varsity space capturing.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin stated in a press release Monday he and his spouse are “praying for the UVA neighborhood.”
“Virginia State Police is totally coordinating with UVA police division and native authorities. Please shelter in place whereas the authorities work to find the suspect,” he stated.
This can be a growing story. Please verify again for updates.
Joe Studley contributed.
