Police arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting at Virginia State University on Saturday that resulted in five injuries, including one critically wounded individual. The suspect, 19-year-old Camron Harris from Henrico, Virginia, was apprehended in a dormitory closet on campus. He is not a student and was not among the injured.
Harris faces four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, with potential for additional charges. He is currently held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail.
Authorities initially reported multiple shooters but have not provided further details on any additional suspects. The victims, aged between 17 and 23, include a 21-year-old man in critical condition who is not a student, while a 20-year-old student has been released from the hospital after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, just two days before the fall semester was set to begin. The university has not announced any cancellations or postponements of classes, which are still scheduled to start on Monday. The university expressed concern for the safety of its community, stating that the well-being of students is a top priority.
Virginia State University, founded in 1882, is located in Petersburg, Virginia, approximately 24 miles south of Richmond, with around 5,700 students, primarily undergraduates. The Chesterfield County Police Department is leading the investigation, supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.