Three people were killed and at least two more were injured in a shooting at the University of Virginia on Monday, which led to a manhunt for the shooter and instructions for students to “shelter in place” or “RUN HIDE FIGHT.”
Around 10:30 p.m., shots were heard in a parking structure on Culbreth Road next to the school’s drama building. Sunday, according to a tweet from the University of Virginia Office of Emergency Management.
Jim Ryan, the president of the university, later wrote to students in an email, “I am heartbroken to announce that the shooting has resulted in three fatalities.” He claimed that two more people were being treated for gunshot wounds and other injuries. The deceased’s name was not made public by him.
Ryan added, “I am heartbroken that this violence has visited the University of Virginia. This is a message any leader hopes never to have to communicate.” Only those personnel who have been designated as essential are likely to report to work on Monday, he said, with classes being cancelled.
According to the authorities, Christopher Darnell Jones was wanted in relation to the fatal shooting. In his message, Ryan referred to Jones as “one of our kids.”
The University of Virginia Police Department tweeted a photo of Jones and advised, “Call 911 if seen, do not approach.”
The same image may be found on Jones’ profile in a 2018 football roster posted on the Virginia Cavaliers’ official website. According to his profile, Jones didn’t take part in any games that season.
Early on in the incident, the university’s emergency management office and the police department both sent warnings to students to “hide in place” or “RUN HIDE FIGHT.”
The suspect may be driving a black SUV and was last seen wearing a burgundy jacket, blue trousers, and red shoes, according to the university’s emergency management office.
The university’s emergency management office later provided an update at around 2:55 a.m. EST, stating that several agencies, including a Virginia State Police helicopter, were still looking for the suspect.
The agency issued repeated requests for locals to shelter in place while the manhunt continued, cautioning that the culprit was still thought to be “armed and dangerous.”
Robyn S. Hadley, vice president and dean of students at the University of Virginia, wrote in an email to students, “We have all received many shelter-in-place texts, and they are alarming. Like many of you, I am sheltered on campus and in contact with UPD and university officials.
As the situation is still tense, Hadley pleaded for people to heed the shelter-in-place orders.
