Authorities are continuing to investigate a shooting at Virginia State University that injured five people early Saturday, with detectives now trying to identify other individuals who may have fired guns during the confrontation. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody as investigators work to determine exactly how the shooting unfolded and who was responsible for the gunfire.
Police Investigate Who Else Fired Weapons
The shooting happened shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday near the Quad Annexes, an area close to university residence halls. Campus police and Chesterfield County officers responding to the scene found five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside the dormitories.
Investigators are examining whether other people who fired weapons were acting in self-defense or were participating in the violence. Police have not disclosed how many additional people may have fired guns or identified specific locations associated with those shooters.
The incident occurred as Virginia State University students were preparing for the start of the new academic year. Many students had recently participated in the university’s “New Trojans Experience” orientation program for incoming students.
19-Year-Old Suspect Remains in Custody
Authorities arrested 19-year-old Camron Harris, of Henrico, Virginia, more than 14 hours after the shooting. Police found Harris hiding inside a closet in a campus dormitory.
Harris is not a Virginia State University student. He faces charges including four counts of malicious wounding and four counts involving the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Authorities have indicated that additional charges could follow as the investigation develops.
The five people injured in the shooting range in age from 17 to 23. One of the victims is a university student, while the others are not affiliated with the school. One victim was reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Campus Lockdown Lifted as Investigation Continues
The shooting triggered a lockdown at Virginia State University while officers searched for possible threats. The lockdown was later lifted after authorities determined there was no immediate danger to the campus community.
The investigation remains focused on establishing what sparked the confrontation, identifying everyone who discharged a firearm and determining whether those individuals were acting defensively or as aggressors.
Virginia State University, located in Ettrick, about 24 miles south of Richmond, is a historically Black public university with roughly 5,700 students. Classes were scheduled to resume Monday as law enforcement continued investigating the shooting.
