A 19-year-old man has been arrested for the shooting at Virginia State University that left five people injured on Saturday, prompting a brief lockdown at the historically Black university.
The suspect has been arrested
The Chesterfield County Police Department arrested Camron Harris after finding him in a closet in a residence hall on the school’s campus in Ettrick, Virginia. Harris, who is not a Virginia State University student, was found about 12 hours after the shooting took place, ABC News reported.
Police said Harris is being held without bond as he faces eight felony warrants. The warrants include four for malicious wounding and four for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
What happened during the shooting?
Shots were fired outside VSU’s university residence halls around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, causing the campus to go on lockdown for a brief period.
Who was hurt?
Police said one of the injured people was a 20-year-old VSU student who was treated at the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. That student has since been released from the hospital. The four others who were injured are not VSU students. A 21-year-old man who was among the injured was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but has now been upgraded to critical condition, police said. The rest of the injured include a 23-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old.
What is Virginia State University saying about the shooting?
VSU said there will be an increased police presence as students and staff return to campus.
“Students should monitor their VSU email for additional safety measures currently in effect and information about available support resources,” the university said, per ABC News.
Although the lockdown has been lifted, the school is urging the community “to remain mindful of the ongoing law enforcement activity and avoid the immediate area where investigators are processing the scene.”
How to report information
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Chesterfield County Police at 804-748-1251, Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or VSU Police at 804-524-5411.