Five people were injured as a result of a shooting at Virginia State University (VSU), after which the campus remains on lockdown, according to the university itself and the VSU Police.
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The incident occurred near the Quad Annexes area of the campus. The university police and Chesterfield County police are investigating the incident.
According to the county police, upon arrival officers found five people with gunshot wounds outside the university residences.
The victims were taken to various hospitals. One of them, who initially had life-threatening injuries, is in critical condition. The other four people suffered injuries that, according to police authorities, are not considered potentially fatal.
The university stated in a release that the shooting involves “several suspects” and asked the public to avoid approaching the area.
The campus maintains a strong law enforcement presence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are providing support, according to the county police.
The Virginia State Police referred inquiries to the local police, who are leading the investigation. Both the county police and campus authorities indicated they will provide more information throughout the day.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has recorded more than 500 mass shootings so far this year. The organization defines this category as incidents in which four or more people are killed or injured, excluding the shooter.
Among other incidents recorded on university campuses, last December at least two people died and eight others were injured in a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
