Local police have arrested former Virginia walk-on football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who has been identified as the lone gunman who killed three members of the 2022 Cavaliers football team and injured two others on campus Sunday night in Charlottesville, Virginia. Football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were all fatally shot, according to University of Virginia president Jim Ryan.
Two other students were hospitalized for gunshot wounds. Mike Hollins, also a member of the football team, remains in critical condition after a gunshot wound to the back that is believed to have exited through his abdomen. He was taken off of a ventilator and “doing well” Tuesday after undergoing a second surgery, according to Sports Illustrated.
The other student, hospitalized but listed in stable condition, is not a member of the football team.
Jones is initially being charged with three counts of second degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in commission of a felony, though the charges could change. UVA police chief Tim Longo was alerted during a Monday morning press conference that Jones was taken into custody around 11 a.m. ET.
Jones, an active student at Virginia but no longer a member of the football team, is accused of shooting five people on a bus at the Culbreth Garage parking deck on UVA Central Grounds at around 10:16 p.m. on Sunday. The shooting occurred following a class trip to see a play in Washington, D.C., according to Ryan.
“I cannot find the words to express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling today after the tragic events last night that resulted in the deaths of Lavel, D’Sean and Devin, and the others who were injured,” said coach Tony Elliott in a statement. “These were incredible young men with huge aspirations and extremely bright futures. Our hearts ache for their families, their classmates and their friends. These precious young men were called away too soon. We are all fortunate to have them be a part of our lives. They touched us, inspired us and worked incredibly hard as representatives of our program, university and community. Rest in peace, young men.”
A shelter in place order was lifted late Monday morning after the Virginia campus was locked down with classes canceled as a “thorough search” for Jones was completed. Charlottesville City Schools also canceled classes for more than 4,000 local students.
“This is an unimaginably sad day for our community,” Ryan said. “The entire university community is grieving this morning. My heart is broken for the victims and their families and for all of those who knew and loved them. They are all in my prayers. When I see our students, I see my own kids. I cannot imagine anything worse for a parent than to lose a child. 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.”
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