November 14, 2022 UVA shooting news

The three UVA students who were shot and killed on Sunday night were football players with a track record of on-field success.

Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from South Carolina, was one of the top wide receivers for the Cavaliers this season. As a 6-foot-7-inch receiver, Davis was the team’s primary deep threat, with 16 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns on the year, good for a stellar 23.2 yards per catch.

As a freshman in 2020, he had 20 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns -- an average of 25.75 yards per catch, second-best in the country -- but missed the 2021 season due to injury.

In a May 2021 video on UVA Football's Twitter, Davis said outside of class he enjoyed watching 90s movies and reading Shakespeare plays and the Bible.

"Virginia is the perfect place for anybody who wants to work hard and be great," he said. "At Virginia, it's way bigger than football."

D’Sean Perry, a junior from Miami, Florida, was a linebacker for Virginia who has played in 15 games over the last three seasons. On Saturday against Pittsburgh, he tallied two tackles in the 37-7 loss.

Devin Chandler, a junior, was a wide receiver and kick returner for UVA who transferred this offseason from the University of Wisconsin. UVA President Jim Ryan said he was from Virginia Beach, although the UVA football roster listed his hometown as Huntersville, North Carolina.

Chris Jones, the suspect in the UVA shooting, had been investigated by campus officials in September after someone reported Jones made a comment about owning a gun, according to UVA Police Chief Tim Longo.

The Office of Student Affairs reported to the multidisciplinary threat assessment team they received information from a non-student about Jones possessing a gun.

To the best of the police's knowledge, the person did not actually see the gun. The comment about owning a gun was not made in conjunction with any threats, Longo said.

The Office of Student Affairs followed up with the reporting party and made efforts to contact Mr. Jones, Longo said. The office also followed up with Jones’ roommate, who did not report seeing a weapon, the chief said.

Jones was also involved in a hazing investigation on campus, Longo said, but the investigation was eventually closed due to witnesses who would not cooperate.

"Through the course of the threat assessment team's investigation, we learned of a prior criminal incident involving a concealed weapon violation that occurred outside the city of Charlottesville in February of 2021," Longo said.

Longo said Jones was required to report that to the University, but he never did. The University's judicial council took over the case and the results are still pending.

Chris Jones, the 22-year-old suspect in the mass shooting on UVA's campus, is now in custody, UVA Police chief Tim Longo said Monday.

Longo made the announcement in the midst of a news conference after another law enforcement official whispered into his ear. Minutes early, Longo and other officials had said Jones was still at large.

Authorities did an "exhaustive" building by building search of the campus, and "are confident the suspect has left the area," President Jim Ryan said earlier.

Jones faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, Longo said.

The UVA shooting on Sunday night occurred on a bus of students who were returning to campus from a field trip in Washington DC, school president Jim Ryan said.

The field trip was to see a play associated with the class, a school administrator said.

The shooting took place in the Culbreth parking garage on UVA's campus.

All three of the victims of the UVA shooting were football players, UVA president Jim Ryan said Monday morning.

The victims were identified as Devin Chandler, a junior from Virginia Beach; Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from South Carolina; and D'Sean Perry, a 4th-year student from Miami, Florida.

Two other students were wounded, with one in good condition and one in critical condition, Ryan said.

“This is a sad shocking and tragic day for our UVA community,” Ryan said.

The suspect, identified as Christopher Jones Jr., is a UVA student who is listed on the university's athletic website as a running back for the football team in 2018.

The shelter-in-place order for UVA has been lifted, the University of Virginia Office of Emergency Management said.

"The UVA shelter in place order has been lifted based upon a thorough search on and around Grounds. A large police presence will remain," it said.

The shelter in place order went into effect not long after 10:30 p.m. ET, according to another tweet, after a gunman killed three people and injured two others.

US Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats of Virginia, responded Monday morning to the UVA shooting by offering their thoughts and support to those affected.

"Thinking of all impacted by the tragic act of violence on UVa’s campus. Please continue to follow all guidance from local law enforcement as they continue to coordinate the search for the perpetrator," Warner said.

Kaine said he was "heartbroken" by the shooting.

"Heartbroken to hear of another Virginia community devastated by gun violence. Praying for the UVA community and closely monitoring the situation," Kaine said on Twitter. "We must take further action to make our communities safer."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin tweeted he and his wife “are praying for the UVA community,” following a shooting that left three dead and two others wounded at the University of Virginia.

Youngkin tweeted in full, “This morning, Suzanne and I are praying for the UVA community. Virginia State Police is fully coordinating with UVA police department and local authorities. Please shelter in place while the authorities work to locate the suspect.”

“For family and friends with questions about the event, @UVA has established an Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836,” he added.

Much of Charlottesville shut down Monday morning as police searched for the suspect in the University of Virginia shooting.

UVA canceled classes Monday and told residents to remain sheltered in place.

Charlottesville City Schools, which includes more than 4,000 students, canceled classes Monday, "in order to give police time to investigate while they search for the suspect in our community," the school system said on its website.

Further, Charlottesville City Offices are closed, the city said in a news alert posted online.

"Following a tragedy at the University of Virginia last night, UVA has canceled classes today and remains under advisement to 'shelter in place,' " the city said. "Charlottesville City Offices will be closed today, November 14th, in order to provide police time to investigate while the suspect remains at large. Safety is our top priority."