UVA Shooter’s Sentencing Delayed Until November 2025

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The sentencing of Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., the former University of Virginia student who pleaded guilty to killing three football players and injuring two others in a 2022 shooting, has been delayed until November 2025. The decision postpones closure for victims’ families and delays the release of a $1.5 million taxpayer-funded report on the incident.

Jones, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and five firearms charges, was originally scheduled for a four-day sentencing hearing starting Feb. 4. The hearing has now been rescheduled to Nov. 17-21, 2025, after the defense submitted a lengthy mitigation report requiring expert review.

“The victims are victimized over and over again,” said Michael Haggard, an attorney representing three of the victims’ families. “It’s unfortunate.”

The delay also stalls the release of an external review commissioned by UVA to investigate the Nov. 13, 2022, shooting. The university has refused to release the report, citing concerns about interfering with the criminal trial and protecting private personal details. UVA President Jim Ryan has also claimed the report contains inaccuracies and could upset victims’ families.

Jones opened fire on a chartered bus returning from a field trip to Washington, D.C., killing football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D’Sean Perry, and injuring Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan. The shooting shocked the UVA community and raised questions about campus safety, including how Jones obtained a firearm on university grounds, where weapons are prohibited.

UVA has faced criticism for its handling of the case, particularly its refusal to release the external review. The Daily Progress has sued the university, alleging violations of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. The case is currently under appeal.

“UVA could be a leader on this,” Haggard said. “I just wish they would step up.”

Each of Jones’ three murder charges carries a potential life sentence. The delay in sentencing has left victims’ families and the UVA community waiting for answers and accountability.