5 people shot at US university, as police probe multiple suspects
The incident, which happened just as Virginia State University’s school year begins, prompted a campus lockdown
Five people were wounded in a shooting involving multiple suspects at Virginia State University early Saturday, prompting a campus lockdown and police investigation just as students get ready for a new school year.
It happened near the university’s Quad Annexes, where campus police and Chesterfield County officers discovered five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside campus dormitories. Officers responded just before 1.30am, and the lockdown was lifted at about 9am, county police said.
The shooting happened as Virginia State’s academic year begins. According to the university’s website, residence halls opened for students a week ago, and classes resume on Monday. Many students had just completed the university’s “New Trojans Experience” for incoming students.
Police and university officials have not identified any of the victims nor said if they are connected to the university.
The five were transported to hospitals, and one initially listed as having life-threatening injuries has been upgraded to critical condition, county police said. The others sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The university said in a statement that the shooting involves “multiple suspects”. The statement asked people to avoid the immediate area on Saturday morning.