Virginia State University Shooting: Police Seek Additional Gunmen
Authorities are actively searching for more individuals who discharged firearms during a shooting incident at Virginia State University that left five people injured. Investigators are working to piece together the events, specifically aiming to determine whether any additional shooters acted in self-defense or were aggressors. This development comes as a 19-year-old suspect, identified as not being a student at the university, remains in custody without the possibility of bail.
Ongoing Investigation and Campus Response
Virginia State University President Makola Abdullah addressed the campus community on Sunday evening, providing an update on the ongoing investigation. She assured students, faculty, and staff that the university is fully cooperating with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies involved in the case. In response to the incident, police have announced an increased presence on campus to ensure continued safety as the investigation progresses.
Details regarding the number of additional individuals who fired weapons have not been released by investigators. Lieutenant James Lamb, who commands the Major Crimes Unit of the Chesterfield County Police Department, informed The Associated Press that detectives are diligently working to identify these individuals and clarify their roles in the shooting. “We don’t have specific locations that we are looking [at] yet as we are working on identifying them,” Lamb stated in an email to the AP, indicating the fluid nature of the investigation.
About Virginia State University
Virginia State University, located in Ettrick, Virginia, approximately 24 miles south of the state capital, Richmond, is a historically Black university. It is a public institution with an enrollment of around 5,700 students. VSU holds the distinction of being the first fully state-supported four-year college established for Black Americans.
Victim Details and Incident Timeline
The victims of the shooting range in age from 17 to 23. Police confirmed that only one of the injured individuals, a 20-year-old male, is a student at Virginia State University. This student sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A 21-year-old non-student male suffered critical injuries, while a 23-year-old male, a 19-year-old female, and a 17-year-old male all sustained injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, near the university’s Quad Annexes residential area. Upon arrival, responding officers from Virginia State University police and Chesterfield County discovered five individuals with gunshot wounds outside campus residence halls. The incident triggered a campus-wide lockdown, which was later lifted after authorities determined there was no immediate threat to the campus community.
Arrest Made in Connection with Shooting
Authorities apprehended Camron Harris, a 19-year-old resident of Henrico, on Saturday afternoon. Officers located Harris hiding in a closet within Seward Hall, a campus residence hall, at approximately 4 p.m. This arrest took place more than 14 hours after the shooting and several hours after the initial lockdown had been rescinded. Police have stated that Harris is not a student at Virginia State University.
Harris faces multiple charges, including four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is currently being held without bond at the Chesterfield County jail and was scheduled to appear in state court on Monday.
Victim Recovery and University Statement
The 20-year-old Virginia State University student, who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, has since been released from the hospital. The 21-year-old man remains in critical condition, with officials indicating that the other victims are expected to make full recoveries.
In his statement on Sunday night, President Abdullah reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and expressed gratitude to the university police and all assisting law enforcement agencies. He acknowledged the significant concern the incident has caused among students, parents, and families, emphasizing that student and campus safety remains a paramount concern and a top priority for the university. Abdullah concluded his message by affirming that Virginia State University is a “strong and resilient community.”
