Police apprehended a 19-year-old individual discovered hiding in a dormitory closet at Virginia State University following an overnight shooting on the campus that resulted in five individuals being wounded, with one sustaining critical injuries. Camron Harris, a resident of Henrico, Va., is not affiliated with the university, and four of the victims were also not students, as confirmed by Chesterfield County Police. The age range of those injured was between 17 and 23, 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.
Law enforcement has not disclosed a possible motive for the incident. Harris faces eight felony warrants, including charges of malicious wounding and firearm use during a felony. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation at this time.
Initial reports from the university suggested the search was ongoing for multiple suspects, but no further details were provided by the police on Saturday evening regarding this matter. Earlier in the day, university officials stated that there was no immediate threat to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the campus lockdown.
The shooting transpired shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, triggering a campus lockdown as students were preparing for the upcoming academic year. The incident occurred in close proximity to the university’s Quad Annexes, where law enforcement found five individuals with gunshot wounds outside the dormitories.
Virginia State University, a historically Black institution situated in Ettrick, Va., approximately 40 kilometers south of Richmond, has an enrollment of around 5,700 students. The university, which primarily caters to undergraduates, is the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans. The institution has been focused on growth while striving to enhance safety measures and preserve its historical significance.
The campus saw a heightened presence of law enforcement on Saturday morning, with students advised to stay vigilant by monitoring their emails for any safety updates and information on support services. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are providing assistance, according to county police.
Arthur Fridrich, the former director of distance education at the university, expressed profound sorrow over the shooting’s timing coinciding with the commencement of the academic year. He emphasized the emotional impact on the community and extended his hopes for the victims’ speedy recovery and resilience in overcoming the trauma of the incident.