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Suspect in UVA shooting previously investigated by school

Virginia State Police vehicles block part of the street in Charlottesville.
The University of Virginia campus was locked down early Monday as law enforcement searched for a shooting suspect connected to an incident that resulted in three deaths. (Photo: Chris Tyree/Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

More charges filed against Jones; court appearance set

5:44 p.m. Tuesday: The Albemarle County prosecutor’s office has filed additional charges against Christopher Jones, the University of Virginia student accused of fatally shooting three UVA football players and wounding two others.

Jones was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of second degree murder and three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He now also faces two counts of malicious wounding.  

Jones is scheduled to appear in Albemarle General District Court on Wednesday. He’s currently being held at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.  

UVA previously looked into Jones’ behavior

3:47 p.m. Monday: The shooting occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday on a charter bus carrying UVA students back from a class field trip.   
 
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony.   
 
University officials previously investigated Jones as a potential safety risk. In September, the Office of Student Affairs reported to the multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team that it received information that Jones had made a comment about possessing a gun to a person that was unaffiliated with the university. The person who made the report, UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said — to the best of the department’s knowledge — never saw the gun. 
 
Jones’ comment about owning a gun was not made in conjunction with a threat, Longo said.   
 
Student Affairs followed up with Jones’ roommate who, Longo said, did not report seeing the weapon. 
 
Through the course of that investigation, Longo told reporters, police learned of a 2021 concealed weapon violation. Longo said it occurred outside the city of Charlottesville. 
 
“What's interesting about that case is he's required as a student at University of Virginia to report that and he never did,” Longo said. “And so, the university has taken appropriate administrative charges for the university's judiciary council and that matter is still pending adjudication.” 
 
Jones had also previously been involved in a hazing incident, Longo told reporters. But that investigation was closed because of an uncooperative witness.  

Suspect arrested in Henrico County

1:13 p.m. Monday: Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, was arrested in connection with the Sunday shooting at UVA in Charlottesville, according to a Henrico County Police release. 

He was arrested in the 5700 block of Edgelawn Street in Henrico County.

Henrico and UVA police are currently working together on the investigation, according to the release. 

UVA police hold press conference

11:14 a.m. Monday: The suspect is in custody, according to Tim Longo, UVA police chief.

Shelter-in-place order lifted

11:03 a.m. Monday: According to a UVA Police Department tweet, the shelter-in-place order for campus has been lifted.

Charlottesville, UVA police search Culbreth parking garage

10:46 a.m. Monday: UVA sent its students, faculty and staff multiple emails and text alerts beginning around 10:30 p.m. about an active shooter on campus. The alerts called for everyone to shelter in place while police looked for the suspect.

“People need to be vigilant,” said Charlottesville Police Capt. Tony Newberry. “Be aware that the police are still out there looking. If you don't have to, don’t be out as much as you can, especially for that general area. Stay where you are and stay vigilant.”

On Monday, local and state police agencies were searching the area around the Culbreth Parking Garage, where the shooting took place, Newberry said.

Charlottesville police are assisting UVA police in the investigation and search, Newberry said. UVA Police could not be reached for comment Monday morning but have scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m.

Charlottesville City Schools and Albemarle County Public Schools are closed Monday. A number of private schools also are closed, including St. Anne's-Belfield School, The Covenant School and Tandem Friends School. 

No other private schools or daycares have published information about closings

Charlottesville City Schools aims to open on time Tuesday and will send students and families a notification by the end of the day, said Amanda Korman, a district spokeswoman.  

It’s unclear if Albemarle schools intend to reopen Tuesday.

Charlottesville Tomorrow contributed to this report.

UVA advises students, faculty on camps to shelter in place

8:50 a.m. Monday: Three people have died after a shooting on the University of Virginia campus, according to a statement from the school's president. 

President Jim Ryan posted a letter to the “University community” on Twitter at 4:37 a.m. Monday, naming a suspect who he said is a student. The student remains at large. 

D'Sean Perry, a linebacker and defensive end for UVA’s football team, is one of the three who were killed, according to The Daily Progress

Two other people were injured in the shooting, according to Ryan's statement. 

The shooting is said to have taken place at 10:30 p.m. Sunday along Culbreth Road in a campus garage. Ryan said that university police are teaming with area law enforcement to apprehend the suspect, who was described as a student at the school. 

According to The New York Times, Eva Surovell — a senior and the editor in chief of The Cavalier Daily, the university’s student newspaper — said by phone early Monday that students were sheltering in place across the campus: 

“People are stuck in the libraries, they’re stuck in academic buildings, they’re stuck in you name it,” Surovell said. 

The school’s emergency management department has asked that anyone on campus shelter in place. For those in nonemergency situations that require contact with police, the department said to call (434) 243-0968. 

The department also is answering questions from friends and families of students about the shooting at (877) 685-4836. 

VPM News is the staff byline for articles and podcasts written and produced by multiple reporters and editors.