Jim Ryan, the president of the University of Virginia, announced at a press conference on Monday that three football players for the Cavaliers had been shot and killed: junior defensive end/linebacker D’Sean Perry of Miami; junior receiver Devin Chandler of Huntersville, North Carolina; and junior receiver Lavel Davis Jr. of Dorchester, South Carolina. Richmond, Virginia — After a search in Charlottesville, Virginia, police have taken into custody a former University of Virginia football player who has been suspected of shooting and murdering three football players and injuring two additional students on campus late Sunday night.
Authorities reported that the shooting suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., had been apprehended “without incident” in Henrico County, Virginia, just before 11 a.m.” Jones, 22, was detained and charged with three charges of second-degree murder plus three counts of using a weapon in the conduct of a felony, according to University of Virginia Police Chief Tim Longo. On the team’s 2018 roster, Jones has listed as a freshman running back, and according to his bio, he had previously played for Varina High School in Virginia and Petersburg High School. Ryan claimed that two teenagers were shot and taken to the hospital; one has believed to be in good health, and the other was said to be in serious condition. Ryan made no mention of the additional students.
Mike Hollins, a junior running back, is one of the hurt students, according to his father, who spoke with The Washington Post. According to Michael Hollins Sr., his son has been shot in the back and is currently in “stable” condition. Hollins Sr. informed the press that “the doctors say he’s going to recover.” They claimed that given his advanced age and physical condition, he was doing remarkably well. According to Brenda Hollins, Mike Hollins’ mother, “Mike is a fighter — and he’s showing it.” “Excellent medical professionals have been collaborating with him. Most importantly, we are in God’s favor and are in God’s care.” A representative from the school told ESPN that the fifth casualty has a female student who was doing well as of Tuesday morning.
After the kids arrived back at school following a field trip, according to Ryan, the shooting happened aboard a charter bus. He described the occurrence as a “sad, frightening, and awful day for the campus community.”Let me express my sincere condolences to the victims and family members and friends, Ryan stated. Tony Elliott, the football coach at Virginia, said in a statement that his squad is going through “devastation and heartbreak.”
Elliott added in the statement, “I cannot find the words to explain the sadness and heartache that our team is feeling today in the wake of the horrible events yesterday night that caused the deaths of Lavel, D’Sean, and Devin, as well as the others who were injured. “These terrific young men had lofty goals and incredibly promising futures. Our hearts have broken for their friends, classmates, and families. These wonderful young men were abruptly summoned away. It is a blessing for all of us that they are a part of our lives. They were ambassadors for our program, university, and community, and they impacted us, motivated us, and worked very hard. Peace be with you, young men.”
Carla Williams, the athletic director for the Cavaliers, also released a statement and prayed for the students’ families. Williams remarked, “I ache for the family members and their parents as a mother of three children.” “Three gifted and intelligent young men left us. We shall never know how they would have changed the world, but we will always remember how they changed us. I offer my prayers for their parent’s and other loved ones’ well-being, solace, and hope. I offer up prayers for courage and a wave of peace that exceeds all comprehension for their teammates, coaches, and friends.”
Ryan revealed that the students had made the trip to Washington, D.C., on Sunday to see a play as a group activity. After sharing dinner, “someone among them opted to execute an act of violence,” according to Longo. A different law enforcement official stopped Longo Monday’s 20-minute news conference at around the 13-minute mark to let him know Jones had been captured. Longo took a moment to breathe after reporting the arrest. Longo told reporters, “I only need a moment to express my gratitude to God and let out a sigh of relief.” Following a call from the police on Monday, Chris Jones Sr., Jones’ father, expressed his shock to Richmond TV station WTVR.
“My heart goes out to their families; I don’t know what to say except that I’m sorry on his behalf, and I apologize,” he added. During the press conference, Longo stated that someone who was not connected to the university had informed the institution’s multi-disciplinary threat assessment team in September that Jones had made a remark about having a pistol on campus but had never seen the gun. Longo asserted that no threats were made in conjunction with the statement that Mr. Jones was a gun owner. Longo claimed that the office of student affairs made an effort to meet with Jones after getting in touch with the source who had reported his remarks regarding the gun.
Longo stated that Jones’ roommate informed the university that he had not observed a firearm. Later, the university discovered that Jones had faced misdemeanor concealed handgun charges in February 2021 outside of Charlottesville. He was supposed to inform the university of the criminal accusations, but he didn’t. Longo stated that Jones was the subject of administrative charges brought by the university through the judiciary council and that the case was still pending. During the press conference, Longo remarked, “I believed it vital to share this information with you.
“To let you know that he has been brought to our attention and to answer any questions you might have about it. Instead of hearing it from someone else, I want you to hear it directly from me.” Jones was also the focus of a hazing investigation, according to Longo, but the case was dropped because the witnesses wouldn’t cooperate. Throughout the season, Davis hauled in 16 passes for 371 yards and two scores. He hauled in 20 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2020, averaging 25.8 yards per catch. Due to a knee injury that necessitated surgery, he was unable to compete during the 2021 season.
Sean Lampkin, an assistant coach at Newberry College and a cousin of Davis, wrote on Twitter on Monday, “Saddening, saddening news this morning.” “Last night, God removed from battle one of his kindest, most modest, and most loving troops. Please pray for my family, as we are inconsolable over the loss of my brother Lavel Davis Jr.” Lavel Davis Sr., Davis’ dad, pleaded with the Lord to aid him in a Facebook post. With two of those tackles coming in the defeat to Pitt on Saturday, Perry had five hits in three games this season. During his rookie season in 2020, he returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown.
Virginia Cancels Their Home Finale In The Aftermath Of A Tragedy That Killed Three Football Players.
Following the gunshot murders of footballers Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis Jr. on Saturday, Virginia has decided to postpone its match against Coastal Carolina, the university said on Wednesday. The season-ending matchup versus Virginia Tech on November 26 in Blacksburg has not yet been decided. Following a class field trip, Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. running back Mike Hollins, and another student were shot on Sunday night as they were returning to campus. After receiving a shot to the back, Hollins is still in the hospital. It is believed that the other survivor is in good health.
University president Jim Ryan said Wednesday night that a funeral ceremony for the three players killed would take place at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. instead of the game that was scheduled for this coming Saturday. Both the public and a live webcast of it will be available. Police detained Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former football player for Virginia, on Monday. He is the suspected shooter. Bail was refused for Jones, 22, at a court appearance on Wednesday.
Jones is accused of three charges of second-degree murder, two charges of intentional injury to another person, and other crimes involving firearms. Jones chose not to plead on Wednesday. Jones, who appeared via video link from jail, informed Albemarle General District Court Court Kenneth Andrew Sneathern that he intends to retain legal counsel; however, the judge named a public defender to serve as his temporary attorney. The judge also scheduled a status hearing for December 8 on the matter. Coach Tony Elliott and the squad will be consulted by Virginia’s department of athletics over playing Saturday’s game, according to athletic director Carla Williams’ statement at a news conference on Tuesday. “Obviously, they’re dealing with a lot, but we want to make sure they’re participating as well,” Williams explained. “We’ll use our best judgment.”
The decision to call off the game received approval from Coastal Carolina. “Even though we enjoy gameday and the passion it fosters, there are occasions when the value of human life and maintaining a community come first. One of those occasions is now, “Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Coastal Carolina, Matt Hogue, stated in a release. “We totally support the decision and will continue to offer our assistance and make whatever additional contributions we are able to make in order to aid our UVA coworkers and friends in their recovery.” Virginia University started courses again on Wednesday. In a statement, Perry’s family expressed their sorrow at his passing.
According To A Witness, The Virginia Shooting Suspect Was Aiming For Individuals.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A passenger on the bus claims that Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., the alleged shooter in a murder Sunday night that left three the University of Virginia football players killed and the other injured, was aiming at people rather than firing a revolver indiscriminately. Devin Chandler, a receiver for the Cavaliers, was shot and murdered by Jones as he was sleeping, according to a witness aboard the bus as it was leaving Washington, D.C., on a class field trip. Judge Kenneth Andrew Sneathern of the Albemarle General District Court received information about the witness statements from Commonwealth’s Attorney James Hingeley on Wednesday, during Jones’ first court appearance.
We have that information from a witness, Hingeley remarked outside the courthouse. Jones, who was in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail at the time of the shooting and participated in the hearing by video, said little during the 20-minute hearing other than saying he wanted to hire his own lawyer and was working. Jones is being held without bail. Jones was previously sentenced to a $100 fine, a 12-month suspended sentence, and a three-year good behavior bond for misdemeanor possession of a concealed handgun in Chesterfield, Virginia, on June 10, 2021, according to court records obtained by ESPN. The judge also ordered Jones to relinquish the firearm in that instance.
Jones was also wanted on misdemeanor hit-and-run property damage and reckless driving charges from Petersburg, Virginia, from 2021 at the time of that arrest. The judge also handed down a 12-month suspended sentence on each of those charges after finding him guilty on October 28, 2021. Additionally murdered in the incident were junior linebacker/defensive end D’Sean Perry of Miami and junior receiver Lavel Davis Jr. of Dorchester, South Carolina. Mike Hollins, a running back from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is in the hospital after getting shot in the back. Student Marlee Morgan from Virginia was the bus’s fifth passenger and was also shot.
A vigil was held Monday night on the South Lawn of the University of Virginia, where thousands of students and community people gathered. A group of students, among them football players from the Cavaliers, made their way to the middle of the lawn, where they took a seat for a 15-minute period of silence before making their way to the middle of the crowd. The rest of the crowd rose to their feet and looked at the group on Old Cabell Hall’s steps while pointing candles and cellphones in their direction. Along with classes and other academic events scheduled for Tuesday, the men’s basketball game between Northern Iowa and Virginia on Monday was postponed. By donning warm-up jerseys honoring the victims of Sunday’s massacre, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team voiced their support for Virginia.
