A 19-year-old man was arrested Saturday afternoon, just hours after five people were wounded in a shooting at Virginia State University as the campus welcomed incoming freshmen.
No fatalities were reported after the gunfire erupted around 1:30 a.m., though one victim remained in critical condition at a hospital as of Saturday evening.
Authorities identified the suspect as Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico, Virginia. Police said Harris, who is not a VSU student, was taken into custody at about 4 p.m. Saturday after officers found him hiding in a closet on campus.
Chesterfield County Police said Harris faces eight felony charges, including four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Investigators have not yet disclosed a possible motive or explained what connection, if any, Harris had to the university.
Campus police and Chesterfield County officers found the five shooting victims in the university’s Quad Annexes area, near campus residence halls.
Officials later confirmed that at least one of the people injured was a student.
The shooting remained under investigation Saturday, casting a shadow over the start of Virginia State University’s new academic year.
Multiple gunman are still at large hours after after five people were shot at Virginia State University
Police arrested a Camron Harris, 19, who is not a VSU student, on Saturday afternoon after finding him hiding in a closet on campus
Many students completed the university’s ‘New Trojans Experience’ for incoming students hours earlier, where they received university pins and listened to a speech by former NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
Residence halls opened for students a week ago, and classes resume on Monday.
Police and university officials have not publicly identified any of the victims. The five were taken to hospitals, and one initially listed as having life-threatening injuries has been upgraded to critical condition, county police said.
The others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The person confirmed to be a student was among those whose injuries were not life-threatening, and the student has been released from a hospital, the university said.
VSU has a long history of shootings with five people wounded in three attacks in 202 and one wounded and one killed near campus last year.
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The university said in a statement early Saturday that the shooting involved ‘multiple suspects’.
Campus police and Chesterfield County officers discovered five people suffering from gunshot wounds in the university’s Quad Annexes outside campus dormitories
The shooting was still under investigation later on Saturday and happened as Virginia State’s academic year begins
Police later said they did not believe there was an immediate threat to the campus community, and the lockdown had been lifted.
‘VSU Police will maintain an increased presence on campus as the investigation continues,’ the university said.
‘Students should monitor their VSU email for additional safety measures currently in effect and information about available support resources.
‘Although the lockdown has been lifted, members of the VSU community are asked to remain mindful of the ongoing law enforcement activity and avoid the immediate area where investigators are processing the scene.’
Local leaders expressed dismay at the shooting and sent their best wishes to the wounded victims.
‘Virginia State University is my alma mater. Waking up to this news is heartbreaking,’ Rozia Henson, a Democratic Party member of the Virginia House of Delegates, said.
No information about the shooters was released and there was no indication police had any suspects
‘My prayers are with everyone affected this morning, with their families, and with the entire Trojan family. VSU, we are with you.’
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said she and her husband were praying for those who were recovering from their wounds.
‘Adam and I are praying for a quick recovery for those who were shot this morning at Virginia State University, and our thoughts are with the VSU community,’ she said.
‘Thank you to the first responders and law enforcement who responded to the scene.’
