A 19-year-old man has been arrested after a shooting at Virginia State University early Saturday left five people wounded, including one critically injured, authorities said.
Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia, was found hiding in a dormitory closet and arrested in connection with the shooting, Chesterfield County Police said. Harris is not a VSU student, and four of the five people injured were also not students.
Shooting prompts campus lockdown
The shooting occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday near the university's Quad Annexes. Campus police and Chesterfield County officers found five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside campus dormitories.
The victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 23, were taken to hospitals. A 20-year-old student was later released, while one victim remained in critical condition. Authorities have not released the victims' names.
The university was placed under lockdown following the shooting. Officials later said there was no longer an immediate threat to the campus community and lifted the lockdown.
Suspect faces eight felony warrants
Police obtained eight felony warrants against Harris, including charges of malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or explained what led investigators to the suspect. It was not immediately clear whether Harris had an attorney.
The university had initially said police were searching for multiple suspects, but authorities did not provide further details Saturday evening.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office were assisting with the investigation.
Shooting comes as students return
The shooting happened just as students were preparing for the new academic year. Residence halls opened a week earlier, and classes were scheduled to resume on Monday.
Many students had recently completed the university's New Trojans Experience programme for incoming students.
VSU urged students to monitor their university email for additional safety instructions and information about support services.
Community shaken by shooting
Virginia State University is a historically Black university in Ettrick, about 24 miles south of Richmond. The public university has around 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.
The shooting has cast a shadow over the start of the academic year, with university officials expressing concern for students and the wider campus community.
Police seek more gunmen
Authorities are searching for additional people who fired weapons, as investigators try to determine who was responsible for the gunfire and whether some of those involved acted in self-defence.
Lt. James Lamb, commander of the Chesterfield County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit, said investigators were trying to determine what triggered the shooting and whether other people who fired weapons were defending themselves or were among the aggressors.
Police have not said how many additional shooters they are looking for.
Campus lockdown lifted
The shooting prompted a campus lockdown as students prepared for the new academic year. University officials later lifted the lockdown, saying law enforcement did not believe there was an immediate threat to the campus community.
Many students had recently completed the university's New Trojans Experience programme for incoming students, with classes scheduled to resume Monday.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office are assisting Chesterfield County police with the investigation.
