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Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a UVA student and former walk-on football player from the Petersburg area, was taken into custody just before 11 a.m., according to the UVA Police Department.
The 22-year-old was captured on the 5700 block of Edgelawn Street, after an officer spotted the suspect's vehicle in the eastern part of Henrico County, local police said on Twitter.
UVA President Jim Ryan identified the victims as D’Sean Perry, a junior from Miami; Devin Chandler, a second-year student from Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Lavel Davis Jr., a third-year student from South Carolina. All three were football players, according to the university's athletics website.
"This is a sad, tragic, and shocking day for our UVA community," Ryan said.
The athletes were found dead on a charter bus returning from a field trip around 10:30 p.m., the president said during a press conference. The shooting happened on Culbreth Road.
Two additional students were taken to a local hospital, where one remains in good condition and the other in critical condition, Ryan said. Their names were not being released in order to protect their privacy. The campus was placed under lockdown as multiple agencies searched the area.
An arrest warrant was soon issued for Jones, who is charged with three counts second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in commission of a felony, WJLA reports.
Governor Glenn Youngkin also shared his condolences on Twitter.
"We had a horrific tragedy overnight at UVA, lives were lost and families changed forever," he wrote. "Due to the diligence and commitment of our law enforcement, the suspect is in custody. While there are still many details to uncover, let us lift up the entire community in prayer."
President Ryan canceled classes Monday, Nov. 14 as a result of the tragedy.
Anyone with questions on the incident is encouraged to contact the UVA Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.
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