The police arrested on Saturday Camron Harris, 19 years old, in connection with the shooting that occurred overnight on the Virginia State University (VSU) campus, which left five people injured, one of them in critical condition.
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According to the Chesterfield County police, the young man, a resident of Henrico, Virginia, was found hiding in the closet of a student residence, and he is not a student of the university.
Of the five injured, four are also not students of the campus and their ages range between 17 and 23 years. One of the victims, 20 years old, is a university student and has already been discharged from the hospital. Authorities have not revealed the identities of those affected.
The police obtained eight felony arrest warrants against Harris, including for assault and for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The university had previously indicated that authorities were looking for several suspects, although the police did not provide additional information during Saturday night regarding that search. Previously, university authorities had indicated that they did not consider there to be an immediate threat to the community and lifted the campus lockdown.
The attack occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, near the university campus annexes. At the scene, campus police and Chesterfield County officers found five people with gunshot wounds near the student residences.
The incident occurred as students were preparing for the new school year. According to the university’s website, the residences had opened a week earlier and classes resume on Monday. Additionally, many students had just completed the welcome program for new students called “New Trojans Experience.”
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“We recognize the concern this incident has caused among our students, parents, alumni, friends, and the VSU community in general,” the university said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
During Saturday morning, there was a significant police presence on campus. The university advised students to check their emails for additional security measures and support services.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance, according to county police.
Arthur Fridrich, former director of distance education at the university and a resident near the campus, described it as tragic that the incident occurred at the start of the academic year.
“Starting a new year with this event is very tragic. It leaves an indelible mark on the minds of all students, and for some, it will be hard to forget this semester,” he said. “I feel very sorry for those who were injured. I hope they recover and that this event does not define their lives.”
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