Crime15 August, 20262 min read
Multiple Suspects Shoot Five People Near Virginia State University Quad Annexes
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Five people were wounded by gunfire near VSU Quad Annexes early Saturday; one critically injured. Police investigated multiple suspects; campus lockdown implemented during investigation.
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5 shot at VSU
A shooting involving multiple suspects at Virginia State University early Saturday wounded five people near the university’s Quad Annexes, prompting a campus lockdown and a police investigation as students prepared for the new school year. Officers from campus police and Chesterfield County officers discovered five people with gunshot wounds outside campus dormitories, and the university later confirmed at least one of the wounded people was a student. The victims were taken to hospitals, and county police said one person initially listed as having life-threatening injuries was upgraded to critical condition while the other four sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
“The university said in a statement early Saturday that the shooting involves ‘multiple suspects.’”
The university said the shooting involved "multiple suspects" and later stated that law enforcement did not believe there was an immediate threat to the campus community, with the campus lockdown lifted. The incident occurred as residence halls opened for students a week ago and classes were set to resume on Monday, according to the university’s website.
Lockdown lifted, search continues
The university urged the campus community to avoid the area around the shooting site and follow law enforcement instructions while VSU Police and the Chesterfield County Police Department continued investigating. In a statement, VSU said, "The campus community should continue to avoid the area and follow all law enforcement instructions," and it also said a significant law enforcement presence remained on campus. Lieutenant James R Lamb of the Chesterfield County Police Department told the BBC, "We don't have anybody in custody," and he said investigators believed there was more than one shooter.
The BBC reported that a temporary lockdown had been lifted but that a "significant" law enforcement presence was still on site, and it said Chesterfield County Police were leading the investigation with help from other local law enforcement and campus police. The shooting was first described as involving multiple suspects, and police and university officials had not identified any of the victims as of later Saturday.
Officials react, victims affected
Virginia State University is a historically Black university in Ettrick, Virginia, about 24 miles south of Richmond, and the shooting unfolded as the academic year began.
“Sen. Mark Warner, also a Democrat, said it was ‘devastating to see another Virginia campus harmed by gun violence.’”
Gov. Abigail Spanberger said via social media, "praying for a quick recovery for those who were shot this morning at Virginia State University, and our thoughts are with the VSU community," and she thanked first responders and law enforcement.
Sen. Mark Warner said it was "devastating to see another Virginia campus harmed by gun violence," as police continued to investigate multiple suspects and had not announced arrests.
The university said the student victim had "sustained non-life threatening injuries" and was discharged from hospital, while county police said one victim remained in critical condition.
Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education who lives near the campus, described the timing as "very tragic" and said, "For those that were shot, my heart bleeds."