
Suspect Arrested After Five Shot Near Virginia State University Residence Halls
ETTRICK, Va. (AP) — Authorities arrested a 19-year-old man Saturday after a shooting near Virginia State University left five people wounded, including one victim who suffered critical injuries.
Chesterfield County police identified the suspect as Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia. Investigators said Harris, who is not enrolled at Virginia State University, was discovered hiding inside a campus closet Saturday afternoon.
Police obtained eight felony warrants against Harris. The charges include malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The shooting occurred early Saturday near the university’s Quad Annexes. Campus police and Chesterfield County officers responded to the area and found five people with gunshot wounds outside campus residence halls.
Authorities said only one of the five victims, a 20-year-old, is a Virginia State University student. The other victims are between 17 and 23 years old.
A 21-year-old man suffered critical injuries, while the other four victims sustained injuries that were considered non-life-threatening. University officials said the injured student has since been released from the hospital.
The incident led officials to place the campus under lockdown while law enforcement investigated. The university initially described the situation as involving “multiple suspects.” Authorities later lifted the lockdown after determining that there was no longer an immediate danger to the campus community.
The shooting happened just as students were preparing to begin the new academic year. Residence halls opened one week earlier, and classes are scheduled to resume Monday. Many incoming students had also recently completed the university’s New Trojans Experience.
A significant law enforcement presence remained on campus Saturday morning. University officials urged students to monitor their email for additional safety updates and information about available support services.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are assisting Chesterfield County police with the investigation.
Virginia State University is a historically Black public university located in Ettrick, approximately 24 miles south of Richmond. The institution has about 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college established for Black Americans.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not announced that it is complete.