Police apprehended a 19-year-old individual discovered concealing in a dormitory closet at Virginia State University on Saturday following an overnight shooting on campus that resulted in five individuals being injured, with one sustaining critical wounds. Camron Harris, a resident of Henrico, Va., is not enrolled as a student at the institution, and neither were four of the injured individuals, as per a statement from Chesterfield County Police. The age range of the injured individuals varied from 17 to 23 years old, with one of them being a 20-year-old student who has since been discharged from the hospital. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed.
Authorities have not disclosed any potential motives for the incident. Harris faces eight felony warrants, including charges for malicious wounding and firearm usage during a felony offense. It remains unclear if he has legal representation at this time.
While the university previously stated that they were searching for multiple suspects, law enforcement provided no further details on the ongoing investigation. Earlier in the day, university officials assured that there was no immediate danger to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the campus lockdown.
The shooting transpired shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday near the Quad Annexes of the university, where law enforcement found five individuals with gunshot injuries outside the dormitories. According to the university’s official website, the residential halls were opened a week ago, with classes scheduled to resume on Monday. Many students had recently completed the university’s orientation program for incoming students.
The safety and welfare of the students remain the utmost priority, emphasized the university in a statement addressing the incident’s impact on the campus community. Enhanced security measures were implemented, and students were advised to monitor their emails for updates on safety protocols and support services. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, alongside the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, were assisting the county police in the investigation.
Virginia State University, situated in Ettrick, Va., approximately 40 kilometers south of Richmond, serves as a historically Black institution with around 5,700 students. Known as the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans, the university predominantly caters to undergraduate students.
Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education and a local resident, expressed deep sorrow over the shooting incident occurring as students returned for classes. Fridrich highlighted the tragic impact on the community and the lasting effect on the students’ psyche, urging for healing and resilience in the face of adversity.