A former football player from the University of Virginia was being hunted down on the locked-down campus of the Charlottesville school in the wake of his alleged gunning down of three people, including a current member of his previous team, and the wounding of two more Sunday night, as explained local police officials.
The suspect in question was officially identified by police forces as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. who was spotted wearing a burgundy jacket with jeans and red sneakers while driving a black 2001 Dodge Durango, as reported by police forces.
“Around 10:30 p.m. last night, there was a shooting on Grounds. One of our students, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., is suspected to have committed the shooting,” stated Jim Ryan, the President of the school, via an email to all employees and students alike. “The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.”
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A series of text messages were sent out to the students on campus with a warning for them to shelter in place while the manhunt for the alleged murderer progressed throughout the evening. All classes for Monday were canceled and a helicopter owned by state police forces scoured the grounds.
“I am on grounds like many of you; I am sheltering in place and in direct touch with University leadership and UPD,” stated Robyn Hadley, the school’s vice president and chief student affairs officer, to the school’s students in another email. “If you are not inside and safe, immediately seek safety.”
Officials for the University did not identify any of the victims at first or comment on whether or not they were students, but one of those killed by the alleged suspect was reportedly D’Sean Perrt, a lineback for the Vacaliers that had played in the game that took place this past Saturday to Pitt. Jones himself is a 5-foot, 9-inch, 195-pound running back from Petersburg, Va. who was officially listed as a freshman on the athletic department website for the school back in 2018.
Glenn Youngkin, the governor of Virginia, put forth his own statement regarding the recent shooting and its following dragnet early Monday morning.
“This morning, Suzanne and I are praying for the UVA community,” expressed Youngkin in his release. “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.”