According to authorities, a suspect is on the run after a shooting at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday night resulted in at least three fatalities and two injuries.
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan identified the suspect as student Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr. in a statement issued to the campus community early on Monday that school officials later shared with ABC News. Jones was identified as the wanted suspect by the University of Virginia Police Department via Twitter.
Heartbroken to hear of another Virginia community devastated by gun violence. Praying for the UVA community and closely monitoring the situation. Please follow the directions of law enforcement at @UVApolice.
We must take further action to make our communities safer.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) November 14, 2022
The fact that “several” law enforcement organizations are actively looking for Jones, who they described as “armed and dangerous,” was confirmed by both Ryan and the police. The university community was instructed by police to “shelter in place” in the interim.
As of this writing, the shooting has claimed three lives, two additional victims were hurt and are currently receiving medical attention, Ryan stated in the statement. We are collaborating closely with the victims’ relatives and we will provide more information as soon as we can.
Jones is characterized as a Black man sporting red shoes, a burgundy blazer and blue jeans. According to authorities, he might be operating a black SUV with Virginia registration plates.
According to Ryan and the police, the gunshot was reported on Sunday at around 10:30 p.m. local time on the University of Virginia campus near Culbreth Road. Em Gunter, a sophomore at the University of Virginia, claimed that she heard gunshots late on Sunday while studying in her dorm.
“Did you hear that I asked my companion as I turned to face her? “I suppose that was like gunfire,” I exclaimed “In a phone interview with ABC News early on Monday, Gunter recalled staying indoors during the storm.
Gunter claimed that she and her classmates had been taking cover in their room for about six hours. She said, “I’m afraid. “I am speechless,” Due to the fatal shooting, which the university president described as a “painful tragedy for everyone in our community,” classes were canceled for Monday.
Prayers for our UVA Family and community this morning. The Office of Attorney General is working with federal and state law enforcement and they are actively investigating the case. We will provide more information at the appropriate time.
— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) November 14, 2022
Ryan continued, “I am heartbroken that this violence has reached the University of Virginia. This is a message every leader hopes never to have to communicate. We will organize a community gathering to grieve as soon as the suspect is found. “I am keeping the victims, their families and all members of the University of Virginia community in my heart today.”
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