Five Injured in Shooting at Virginia State University
Suspects still at large; student victim discharged; second victim under 18
A shooting outside a residence hall at Virginia State University left five people injured early on Saturday morning, with one victim in critical condition, university officials have confirmed. The incident occurred at approximately 01:28 local time (05:28 GMT) and involved multiple suspects, according to a statement from the institution.
All five individuals were found with gunshot wounds and transported to local hospitals. Four of the victims sustained injuries not considered life-threatening, while one remained in a critical condition as of Saturday morning. It was not immediately clear whether any suspects had been arrested.
Campus Lockdown Lifted
A temporary lockdown was imposed on the Virginia State University campus following the shooting but was later lifted. A "significant" law enforcement presence remained on site, the university said. Chesterfield County Police are leading the investigation with assistance from other local law enforcement agencies and campus police officers.
Virginia State University, located just over 20 miles south of Richmond — the capital of the US state of Virginia — has an enrollment of approximately 5,000 students. The campus dormitories had only recently opened for returning students on Friday, ahead of classes scheduled to begin on Monday for the new academic term.
Historically Black College
Virginia State University is one of the United States' historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). These institutions were established to provide higher education to African Americans who were historically excluded from most other colleges and universities due to racial segregation laws. The BBC has reached out to local police for further comment on the investigation.
Update: Suspects Still at Large, Student Victim Released
Chesterfield County Police confirmed late Saturday that no arrests have been made. "We don't have anybody in custody — we know there was more than one shooter, so the suspects are still at large," Lieutenant James R Lamb told the BBC. Officers are reviewing surveillance video for evidence. Of the five victims, one has been identified as a Virginia State University student who was discharged from hospital after non-life-threatening injuries, while a second victim was under 18 years old.