Police apprehended a 19-year-old individual who was hiding in a dormitory closet at Virginia State University following an overnight shooting on campus that resulted in five individuals being injured, one critically. Camron Harris, a resident of Henrico, Va., is not enrolled as a student at the university, and neither were four of the victims, aged between 17 and 23. One of the injured, a 20-year-old student, has been discharged from the hospital, while the identities of the victims have not been disclosed.
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed any potential motives for the incident. Harris faces eight felony warrants, including charges for malicious wounding and firearm use during a felony. It is unclear at this time if he has legal representation.
Earlier reports from the university mentioned a search for multiple suspects, but no new details were provided by the police on Saturday. University authorities had earlier stated that there was no immediate threat to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the lockdown.
The shooting occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, triggering a campus lockdown as students were preparing for the upcoming academic year. The incident took place near the university’s Quad Annexes, where law enforcement discovered the injured individuals.
Residence halls at the university opened a week before the incident, with classes scheduled to resume on Monday. The university has emphasized the safety and security of its students as a top priority in response to the incident.
Virginia State University, a historically Black institution situated in Ettrick, Va., approximately 40 kilometers south of Richmond, the state capital, has an enrollment of around 5,700 students, primarily undergraduates. The campus saw a heightened law enforcement presence following the shooting, with students advised to check their emails for updates on safety protocols and support services.
The university, the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans, has focused on enhancing safety measures and preserving its historical significance in recent years. Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education, expressed sorrow over the shooting, highlighting the impact it may have on the returning students. He extended his thoughts to the victims, hoping for their swift recovery and resilience in overcoming the ordeal.
