University of Virginia student and former football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. is now in police custody after police say he enacted a mass shooting that left three of his former teammates dead and two injured.
Jones allegedly shot dead UVA linebacker D’Sean Perry and wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler on Sunday night in a parking garage, injuring an additional two football players in a mass killing which prompted law enforcement manhunt and FBI involvement.
Be on the lookout for this subject, he is considered armed and dangerous.
He was last seen wearing a burgundy jacket, blue jeans and red shoes; and he may be driving a black SUV, tag: TWX3580.#Tips: call 911 immediately, do not approach.@UVAPolice https://t.co/wWtH6bCw6F— FBI Richmond (@FBIRichmond) November 14, 2022
Despite allegedly being a mass shooter, Jones was described in mainstream media reports as an American success story.
According to a 2018 report by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jones was a “beautiful person” who overcame hardships in early life to eventually do well in college.
The Washington Post appeared to celebrate Jones as someone who despite a “troubled” childhood, “flourished” at the University of Virginia.
“Jones appeared to flourish in the years that followed. He played linebacker and running back at Petersburg High, earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a senior, according to a football biography on the University of Virginia website. He belonged to the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society and served as president of both the Key Club and Jobs for Virginia Graduates program,” the Post wrote of the alleged mass murderer.
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan revealed that Jones is the suspect in a dire statement posted to social media last night.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies are coordinating to find and apprehend him,” Ryan wrote.
“As of writing, I am heartbroken to report the shooting has resulted in three fatalities; two additional victims were injured and are receiving medical care. We are working with the families of the victims, and we will share additional details as soon as we are able.”
An update on the active shooter incident at UVA: pic.twitter.com/LLshF8JJcR
— Jim Ryan (@presjimryan) November 14, 2022
“This is a message any leader hopes never to have to send, and I am devastated that this violence has visited the University of Virginia,” Ryan added. “I am holding the victims, their families, and all members of the University of Virginia community in my heart today, and we will make plans to come together as a community to grieve as soon as the suspect is apprehended.”
The university has since cancelled Monday classes and lifted the shelter in place order that was enacted around the time Jones allegedly murdered his fellow students.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated with additional information as it becomes available.
This news and commentary by Andrew White originally appeared on Valiant News.
