College football players killed in shooting as team-mate arrested and two hospitalised
Three students have been killed while two are in hospital.
Three college football players from the University of Virginia have been killed following a shooting, with two others hospitalised. A suspect - believed to be a former walk-on player for the team - has been taken into custody.
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Receivers Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis and linebacker D’Sean Perry were killed in the incident, which occurred on a bus full of students.
The students were returning from a field trip to see a play in Washington, D.C, according to university president Jim Ryan. The suspect that remains in custody is Christopher Darnell Jones Jr, a former member of the UVA college football team.
Jones Jr was listed as a player for the college side in 2018, but the university website stated he didn't play any games. His motive behind the incident is unknown at this stage.
The alleged shooter is facing charges of three counts of second-degree murder, police said on Monday. And two other students are hospitalised following the shooting that occurred late on Sunday night.
According to president Ryan, one of the students was in critical condition while the other student was in good condition at a local hospital. The incident took place in a parking garage, with the bus full of students who had returned from Washington.
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The shooter was on the run for 13 hours before he was apprehended by police on Monday, which caused a state of mass panic overnight. Students were ordered to shelter as they were while the campus was thoroughly searched.
This order remained in place for 12 hours before being lifted as the authorities ensured there were no further casualties. Upon hearing the news that the shooter had been caught, university police chief Timothy Longo Sr said: "Just give me a moment to thank God, breathe a sigh of relief."
However, Longo Sr also took the time to pay tribute and reflect, as he added: "Let me say how deeply sorry I am for the victims and for their family and friends." Davis had 16 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns this season, and had just recovered from a knee injury that required surgery.
Perry had five tackles in three games this season, and was developing well as a junior defensive end/linebacker. Chandler has not appeared in a game this season, but did catch two passes for 28 yards as a freshman in 2020.
