Update: Three UVA football players dead from shooting after school field trip

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Three Virginia football players, Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry and Wisconsin transfer Devin Chandler, were victims of a shooter on campus late Sunday night, it has been confirmed.

According to a source, the three had been on a drama class field trip to Washington, D.C., earlier in the day and had been targeted, among others by suspect Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former walk-on running back on the 2018 UVA team. Jones is a student at UVA and as of 9:30 a.m. was allegedly still at large. He is said to be armed and dangerous.

UVA’s campus has been on lockdown since the shootings occurred somewhere around 10:30 p.m. last night, leaving at least three dead and others injured. The shootings took place at the Culbreath Garage. A massive manhunt is underway in the search for Jones, who is from Petersburg.

The UVA Police Department issued a statement at 10:30 a.m. that the shelter in place order had been lifted based upon a thorough search on and around Grounds, but that a large police presence will remain. Classes at UVA were called off early this morning by school president Jim Ryan. Charlottesville area schools were also closed.

Perry’s father confirmed on Twitter during the night that his son, a junior linebacker from Miami, was one of the victims. Davis, a star junior wide receiver from Dorchester, S.C., was also confirmed a victim. On3.com confirmed the death of Chandler, a junior wide receiver from Huntersville, N.C.

There are unconfirmed reports that the other two shooting victims were also UVA football players. Their conditions are unknown.

“There are no words to express the grief that the Woodland (High School) community is feeling right now,” tweeted Mathis Burnette, the offensive line coach at Davis’ former school. “Everything about Lavel Davis was first class and the world is a sadder place because he is gone. Prayers for everyone in the Davis family and the Woodland Community.”