An early-morning shooting outside residence halls at Virginia State University left five people wounded, including one in critical condition, according to school officials and news reports.
The shooting occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday near the Quad Annexes, WTTG-TV in Washington reported. Virginia State said “multiple suspects” were involved.
Lockdown Lifted, Investigation Continues
The campus was placed on lockdown overnight, but that lockdown had been lifted by 8 a.m., 13NewsNow in Norfolk reported.
Virginia State wrote in a Saturday morning post on X that a “significant law enforcement presence remains on campus as the investigation into this morning’s shooting continues.”
Four of the victims had injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to reports. Details about the circumstances of the shooting were not clear Saturday morning.
Classes Were Set to Begin Monday
Virginia State University is located in Ettrick, Virginia, just south of Richmond. The school is one of more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.
The shooting came as the university was preparing for the first classes of the fall semester, which were scheduled to begin Monday, according to USA Today.
Several Agencies Involved
According to Virginia State’s post, the investigation is being led by Chesterfield County police with assistance from Virginia State University police, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
