A former University of Virginia football player is in custody on suspicion of killing three football players and wounding two other students on campus Sunday night in Charlottesville, Virginia, police confirmed Monday.
During a news conference Monday, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan said three Cavaliers football players were shot and killed: junior receiver LaVell Davis Jr. of Dorchester, South Carolina; junior receiver Devin Chandler of Huntersville, North Carolina; and junior defensive end/linebacker De’Sean Perry of Miami.
Authorities said the man involved in the shooting, identified as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was arrested “without incident” just before 11 a.m. in Henrico County, Virginia. University of Virginia Police Chief Tim Longo said Jones, 22, was arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a crime.
Jones was listed as a freshman running back on the team’s 2018 roster, and his roster bio noted that he previously played at Petersburg High School and Varina High School in Virginia.
Ryan said two other students were shot and hospitalized; He said that the condition of one person is normal and the condition of one person is critical. Ryan did not identify the other students.
One of the injured students is junior running back Mike Hollins, his father told The Washington Post. Michael Hollins Sr. told the Post that his son was in “stable” condition after being shot in the back.
“The doctors said he was going to recover,” Hollins Sr. told the newspaper. “They said for his age and physical condition, he’s doing exceptionally well.”
“Mike is a fighter — and he’s showing it,” Hollins’ mother, Brenda Hollins, told The Associated Press. “We have great doctors working with him. And most importantly, he has the grace of God and the hand of God.”
Ryan said the charter bus was shot after the students returned to campus from a field trip. He called the incident a sad, shocking, and sad day for the university community.
“Let me say how deeply I feel for the victims and their families and friends,” Ryan said.
In a statement, Virginia football coach Tony Elliott said his team was going through a “devastating and heartbreaking” experience.
“I cannot find the words to express the devastation and pain our team feels today following the deaths of Lavelle, De’Sean and Devin, and the others injured in last night’s tragedy,” Elliott said. statement. “These were incredible young people with huge aspirations and very bright futures. Our hearts go out to their families, their classmates, and their friends. These precious young people were called too soon. We are all so lucky to have them as a part of our lives. They touched us, and inspired us. gave and worked incredibly hard as a representative of our program, university, and community. Rest in peace, young men.”
Cavaliers athletic director Carla Williams also released a statement offering prayers for the student’s families.
“As a mother of three, I am saddened for the parents and family members,” Williams said. “We have lost three talented and bright young men. We may never see the impact they had on the world, but we will never forget their impact. I miss Lavelle, De’Sean, and Devin. I pray for peace, and comfort. And hope for their parents and loved ones. For their teammates, coaches, and friends, I pray for strength and peace that passes all understanding.”
Ryan said the students traveled to Washington, D.C., on Sunday to attend a game as part of a class field trip. Longo said the students ate together and then “one of them chose to act violently.”
About 13 minutes into Monday’s 20-minute news conference, Longo was interrupted by another law enforcement officer and said Jones had been arrested. After announcing the arrest, Longo paused for a moment.
“I just need a moment to thank God and breathe a sigh of relief,” Longo told reporters.
Jones’s father, Chris Jones Sr., told Richmond TV station WTVR that he was in disbelief when he got the call from police Monday.
“My heart goes out to his family. I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry on his behalf, and I’m sorry,” he said.
Longo said at a press conference that someone notified the university’s multidisciplinary threat assessment team in September that Jones had made comments about having a gun on campus. Longo said the man, who was not affiliated with the university, had never seen the gun.
“The comment that Mr. Jones had a gun was not made in conjunction with any threats,” Longo said.
Longo said the Office of Student Affairs contacted the person who reported Jones’ comments about guns and attempted to speak with Jones.
Jones’ roommate told the university he didn’t see the weapon, Longo said.
The university later learned that Jones was charged in February 2021 with misdemeanor possession of a concealed weapon outside of Charlottesville. He was required to report the criminal charges to the university but failed to do so. Longo said the university had filed administrative charges against Jones through the judiciary and the case is still pending.
“I felt it was important to share that information with you,” Longo said at the press conference. “To let you know that he was called to our attention and to answer any questions you may have about it. I want you to hear it from me and no one else.”
Longo said Jones was also the subject of a hazing investigation, but the case was closed after witnesses were uncooperative in the process.
Davis had 16 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns this season. As a freshman in 2020, he caught 20 passes for 515 yards and five TDs, averaging 25.8 yards per catch. He did not play in the 2021 season due to a knee injury that required surgery.
“Sad, sad news this morning,” Newberry College assistant coach Sean Lampkin, Davis’ cousin, posted on Twitter Monday. “God took one of his most gracious, humble, loving soldiers off the battlefield last night. Please pray for my family as we are devastated by the passing of my cousin Lavelle Davis Jr.”
Davis’ father, Lavelle Davis Sr., said in a Facebook post: “Lord please help me.”
Perry had five tackles in three games this season, including two in Saturday’s loss to Pitt. He had an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown during his freshman season in 2020.
Chandler had not appeared in a game this season after transferring from Wisconsin. He caught two passes for 28 yards as a freshman and had a 59-yard kickoff return for the Badgers in the Mayo Bowl at Duke in 2020.
“Once a Badger, always a Badass,” University of Wisconsin interim head coach Jim Leonhardt posted on Twitter Monday after Chandler’s death. “Even after he left UW, he had a lasting impact on his teammates, which is a testament to the kind of person he was. His personality was infectious and he was a joy to be around. Our team is grieving for him and his family.”
“While we do not have a full understanding of the motives and circumstances surrounding these incidents, police are still investigating as we speak,” Ryan said at a news conference Monday.
“This is an unimaginably sad day for our community. The entire university community is in mourning this morning. My heart breaks for the victims and their families and everyone who knew and loved them, and they are all in my prayers. As I said earlier, when I spoke to our I see the students, I see my own children, and I can’t imagine anything worse for a parent than losing a child.”
Thousands of Virginia students and community members gathered Monday night on the campus’s South Lawn for a vigil. After walking together to the center of the lawn and sitting for 15 minutes of silence, a group of students that included Cavaliers football players walked to the front of the crowd. Everyone stood up and pointed their candles and cell phones at the group, which stood on the steps of the old Cabell Hall.
“A light in the dark. Thank you to our students for lighting the way,” Ryan wrote in a tweet.
The men’s basketball matchup between Northern Iowa and Virginia was canceled Monday, as were classes and other academic activities scheduled for Tuesday.
The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team showed support for Virginia by wearing warm-up shirts in honor of the victims of Sunday’s shooting.