A 19-year-old has been arrested after a shooting at Virginia State University left five people injured, including one with critical injuries. The suspect was found hiding in a dormitory wardrobe on Saturday.
Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico, Virginia, is not a student on campus, nor were four of the injured, according to Chesterfield County Police. The victims ranged in age from 17 to 23. One of the injured, a 20-year-old student, has been released from the hospital, while another suffers critical injuries. The possible motive has not been given.
Arrest and Charges
Police obtained eight felony warrants for Harris, including for malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Prior to finding Harris, the university had said authorities were searching for multiple suspects, but no update has been provided.
The campus was placed on lockdown during the shooting, but it has been lifted as there is deemed no immediate threat. A large police presence remains.
Incident Details
The shooting took place just after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, as students were preparing for the 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 dormitories.
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.
Community Reaction
The university said in a statement: “We recognise the concern this incident has caused among our students, parents, alumni, friends, and the broader VSU community. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.” Students were told to monitor their email for additional safety measures and information about support services.
Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education, who lives near the campus and visits regularly, said a shooting like this just as students return for classes is heartbreaking for the community. “To start a new year with this event is very tragic. It casts a shadow in the minds of all students, and for some it will be difficult to rid their minds of this term,” he said. “For those that were shot, my heart bleeds. I hope that they all mend and somehow do not let this event define their lives.”
