- Five people were injured in a shooting involving multiple suspects at Virginia State University, prompting a temporary campus lockdown early Saturday just days before the new academic year was set to begin.
- The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. outside a university residence hall, and both campus police and the Chesterfield County Police Department are investigating.
- When police arrived, they found five people suffering from gunshot wounds.
- One person is currently in critical condition, while the remaining four sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, the university said.
- Police and university officials have not identified any of the victims nor said if they are connected to the university.
- School officials said a significant law enforcement presence remains on campus as police continue their investigation.
- Classes for the new academic year are set to begin on Monday, CBS News affiliate reported.
- Residence halls opened for students a week ago, and many students had just completed the university's "New Trojans Experience" for incoming students.
- Virginia State University is a historically Black university in Ettrick, Virginia, about 24 miles south of the state capital of Richmond.
- The public university has about 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.
Five people were shot early Saturday at Virginia State University, leading to a campus lockdown just days before the new academic year. The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. outside a residence hall, with police confirming that one victim is a student and the others may be from the surrounding community.123
Lt. James R. Lamb of the Chesterfield County Police Department stated that the incident was not a drive-by shooting and that authorities are searching for multiple suspects. The victims were transported to nearby hospitals, with one in critical condition and the others sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
A significant law enforcement presence remains on campus as the investigation continues, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office. Police have not yet identified the victims or confirmed any arrests. Classes for the new academic year are set to begin on Monday, following the university's recent orientation program for incoming students.67
Virginia State University, located in Ettrick, Virginia, is a historically Black institution with approximately 5,700 students and is recognized as the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.11
“Police found five gunshot victims outside a residence hall around 1:30 a.m., with one in critical condition. Officials have confirmed only one victim was a student, and the shooting was not a drive-by, as investigators search for multiple shooters.”
CBS News
