Former UVA Student Pleads Guilty to 2022 Campus Shooting

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A former University of Virginia student pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges relating to a fatal shooting incident in 2022 that claimed the lives of three football players and injured two other students on the university’s campus. Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 25, entered a guilty plea to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and five counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to commence on February 4 in Albemarle County Circuit Court, where Jones could face a maximum sentence of five life terms plus 23 years, according to a statement from the University of Virginia.

The incident occurred when Jones opened fire on a charter bus filled with students returning from a trip to see a play and have dinner in Washington, D.C. The shooting resulted in the deaths of football players Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry, and Devin Chandler. Another football player, Mike Hollins, and student Marlee Morgan, sustained injuries during the attack. The authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, but a witness claims Jones targeted specific individuals during the incident. Jones, who once played for the university’s football team, was swiftly apprehended after a 12-hour lockdown of the campus.

In response to the tragic event, the University of Virginia sought an independent review of its safety policies and procedures, as well as its response to the violent incident. Officials acknowledged that Jones had previously been on the radar of the university’s threat-assessment team.

Additionally, the university reached a $9 million settlement with the families of the victims earlier this year. Kimberly Wald, an attorney for several of the families, stated, «The school should have removed Jones from campus before the attack, as he exhibited multiple red flags with erratic and unstable behavior.» As part of the settlement, $2 million was designated for each of the families of the deceased and $3 million was allocated to the two wounded students.

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan commented, «Today’s proceedings represent another step in a lengthy and painful journey for the families of the victims and our community. We continue to grieve the loss of three beloved members of our community and the injuries suffered by others on the bus.» The university intends to release the findings of the independent investigation into the shooting after the criminal proceedings conclude.