Five people were shot outside residence halls at Virginia State University early Saturday, leaving one person critically wounded and prompting a campus lockdown, Chesterfield County Police said.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 1:28 a.m. local time and found five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside the university’s residence halls.
All five victims were transported to area hospitals. One person was in critical condition, while the other four sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to police.
Authorities were investigating multiple suspects in connection with the shooting, according to reports. The identities of the victims and their connections to the university were not immediately clear.
The university initially ordered a lockdown as law enforcement responded to the shooting. The lockdown was later lifted, although a significant police presence remained on campus as the investigation continued.
Virginia State University shooting occurs ahead of new academic year
The shooting occurred near the university’s Quad Annexes in the area of Boisseau Street. Chesterfield County Police were leading the investigation, with university police and other law enforcement agencies assisting.
Virginia State University is a historically Black university founded in 1882 and located in Ettrick, Virginia, less than 25 miles south of Richmond. The shooting occurred shortly before the beginning of the new academic year.
